09 February 2023 , 15:08
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Jamie Carragher has conceded he was wrong in his initial assessment of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez and has admitted the Argentine has been "brilliant" this season.
Having followed manager Erik ten Hag from Ajax to Old Trafford, Martinez struggled in his first couple of games, both of which ended in defeat by Brighton and Brentford respectively. It was the latter one, a 4-0 loss in West London, that prompted Carragher to insist the Argentine's height was going to be an issue for him this season.
The Liverpool legend told Sky Sports back in August: "What I would say about him, because of his size, is that is a problem for him. No matter what anyone says, being 5ft 9in is a problem."
However, Martinez has worked tirelessly to prove the detractors wrong and appears to have done so if Carragher's latest comments are anything to go by.
Six months after revealing his doubts about United's £56million defender, Carragher U-turned on that assessment while speaking on The Overlap Live Fan Debate, in partnership with Sky Bet: "Lisandro Martínez has been brilliant. To be that small and play centre-back, you obviously have to be a special player.
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"He’s been a big part of Manchester United’s spirit. There was a game I saw a few weeks ago and he was a sub, and someone scored a late goal, and he was right involved in the celebrations."
Jamie Carragher has changed his mind on Man Utd defender Lisandro MartinezHAVE YOUR SAY!Was Carragher too quick to judge Martinez's style back in August? Comment below
Remarkably, considering Carragher's early fears regarding Martinez was centred around his size and physicality, he has now waxed lyrical about Martinez's power and strength.
"At the World Cup with Argentina, we saw him have that fight – with him and Casemiro coming in, they feel more powerful and strong. Someone of that size will get exposed in the air – that has to happen at some stage.
"Every player has weaknesses; the best players hide them or make sure they don’t get exposed. He's a really good player and he's surprised me the way he's coped."
Martinez has been a big factor in allowing United to play the way they do under Ten Hag and boasts the kind of technical quality that the likes of Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof do not possess.
It is for that reason that the Argentine has kept his place ahead of the aforementioned duo, who have both seen their game-time drastically reduced since Martinez arrived in the summer transfer window.
The ultimate response from Martinez's perspective to all of the doubters from the summer would surely be to guide United back into the Champions League, which looks likely as things stand with Ten Hag's side sitting third after 22 games played.