Lisandro Martinez issues defiant warning to Erling Haaland ahead of Manchester derby
Man Utd defender Lisandro Martinez focuses on the present, dismissing his recent success against Erling Haaland as he prepares for the showdown at Old Trafford.
Ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby at Old Trafford, Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has addressed his upcoming battle with Erling Haaland. Although Martinez has successfully nullified the Manchester City forward in their last five meetings, he is dismissing the significance of those past encounters.
"Yeah, but that is the past. It's the past, you know, it's gone, and now we have to, I have to be ready for this game because it's going to be so different from the last one," said Lisandro Martinez.
United enter the clash with renewed morale following a 4-0 Champions League win over Sabah, a match in which Martinez also found the back of the net. However, the Argentine maintained that his primary focus remains on his defensive responsibilities and securing points for the team rather than individual accolades.
Despite City having an additional 48 hours of recovery time, Martinez remains unfazed, viewing the high-intensity schedule as the standard the team aspires to maintain. The defender is now focused on recovery before the fixture.
This derby represents a critical moment for United, who have had a stuttering start to their Premier League campaign. A positive result against Enzo Maresca's side could provide the spark needed to turn their domestic season around.