Because to Lisandro Martinez’s commitment and intensity, Man Utd’s defense is getting better.
David de Gea unexpectedly jumps on board, Marcus Rashford receives a pat on the back, and Harry Maguire hears a roar of praise. Oh, and a fist-pump yell at the Manchester United supporters. cheers when Lisandro Martinez scores another three points.
In addition to when his team scores goals, the Argentine’s celebrations are already well-known at United, and they had to fight really hard to suppress them against West Ham.
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Martinez encapsulates United’s development in certain ways. After two games and two losses, he was written off as a failure; now, his height is unimportant. Once more, how tall is he? Nobody gave it a second thought in the lead-up to the game despite the fact that he had to defend against a 6ft 5in striker at the weekend.
Martinez makes up for his lack of height more than adequately with ferocity. He is one of the zealous, dedicated center backs to play in the Premier League in a very long time.
He was leaping into confrontations against West Ham as United withstood a second-half bombardment. He once won a header over big Gianluca Scamacca only because he wanted it more.
If you ask United supporters, a rising proportion will say that Martinez is their favorite player—not just this generation, but in many previous years. Martinez is the ideal remedy after a period in which too many high-profile acquisitions turned out to be forgettable duds.
Although it does him a disservice, he has already developed a tight relationship with his admirers and is regarded as something of a cult figure. Players that were popular with fans despite not being that excellent are typically considered cult heroes. Martinez is displaying tremendous talent.
His teammates have benefited from his defensive vigor. This season, United has had some weak defensive performances, most notably against Brentford and Manchester City, but they are unquestionably getting better.
Old Trafford has kept five straight shutouts, and since giving up six at the Etihad, they have only allowed four goals in eight games.
The way Martinez celebrated yesterday with De Gea and Maguire at the final whistle demonstrated how highly they value clean sheets. There is a desire to put bodies on the line now. He becomes hysterical when the final horn blows.
Erik ten Hag should be commended for recognizing the value Martinez may add to the United defense. Not just in his aggression, which was so frequently lacking last year, but also in his ball skills. A revelation has been his forward passing.
On the field, his lively and vivacious demeanor seems to be influencing his teammates and motivating them to cast off convention and chains.
In the program on Sunday, Ten Hag discussed the value of group celebrations. Ten Hag has made frequent mention of the significance of team spirit this season.
The players’ celebrations following Casemiro’s goal at Stamford Bridge, in Ten Hag’s opinion, “demonstrated something else that we have really strived to develop: team spirit and camaraderie.”
“Everyone tried to ensure that we gained something from the game last weekend, and I think a point was the least we deserved. Therefore, they demonstrated how much it meant to them when the goal was scored.
Similar circumstances occurred following Fred and Bruno’s goals against Tottenham, when everyone shown emotion and wanted to join the fans in celebrating. These players are developing a bond, and the closer they become, the more difficult it will be for our opponents to win any game.
“To stay on that course, we must make sure we continue to do everything that has fostered this relationship, which fundamentally entails working hard for one another and having faith in one another.”
We’re accustomed to seeing celebrations after goals, but he’s making them commonplace in defense as well. On Sunday, his gratitude for teammates who had put in a lot of effort was again apparent at the final whistle.