Legendary goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel has launched a scathing critique of Lisandro Martinez, declaring the defender unfit for Manchester United following his red card in Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea. Schmeichel argued that the Argentine’s conduct let manager Michael Carrick down during a critical fixture at Stamford Bridge on October 31.
Martinez’s afternoon ended prematurely in the 63rd minute after receiving two yellow cards within a four-minute span. The initial caution followed a shirt pull on Morgan Rogers, while his second yellow was issued after a VAR review identified a reckless challenge where he caught Chelsea’s Wesley Fofana in the face with a raised forearm. Referee Peter Bankes signaled for a penalty, which Cole Palmer converted to double Chelsea’s lead. The breakthrough for the hosts had occurred in the 50th minute when Rogers exploited a pass from Romeo Lavia to chip goalkeeper Senne Lammens. He said, speaking on PL Match Centre (via UtdFaithfuls on X ). It was another damaging afternoon for a club in freefall.
The defeat compounds a miserable run for Manchester United, who are now winless in nine consecutive matches across all competitions—the club’s longest drought since 1988. Currently 16th in the league with only seven points from nine games, the Red Devils sit just one point clear of the relegation zone. Carrick’s squad has struggled significantly this season, securing only two victories in 13 matches while suffering seven defeats in that same span. Ally McCoist, on commentary for TNT Sports, was just as blunt. Beating promoted Ipswich in the league and Champions League newcomer Sabah, and they are already out of the Carabao Cup, carrick’s side have won twice in 13 matches this season.
With Martinez suspended for the upcoming Premier League fixture against Aston Villa, defensive options are limited, with Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, and Ayden Heaven emerging as potential replacements. The pressure on Carrick remains intense, as the club faces an immediate return to action against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Beyond the tactical issues, the atmosphere around the club remains tense, particularly after Martinez publicly questioned the board’s recruitment strategy just two weeks ago. As Chelsea moves up to fourth place with 16 points, Manchester United enters a period of intense scrutiny with no formal statements regarding the manager’s long-term future. The Argentina defender had already drawn attention by calling out the club’s hierarchy over summer recruitment in a post-match interview two weeks ago.
