Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel delivered a stinging rebuke of Lisandro Martínez, saying the defender was solely responsible for a 2-0 loss to Chelsea on Saturday, Oct. 31.
Martínez was slow to react on Morgan Rogers' 50th-minute opener at Stamford Bridge, then played an even bigger part on Chelsea's second goal.
The Argentina international was sent off for a second yellow card, conceding a penalty after a high arm on Chelsea's Wesley Fofana on an aerial challenge.
Cole Palmer deposited the ensuing penalty kick in the 64th minute, giving Chelsea a 2-0 lead that would end up as the final score.
The result saw United slump to its ninth consecutive match without victory. The Red Devils are 17th in the Premier League table, only above the relegation
zone on goal difference.
Schmeichel, United's goalkeeper from 1991 to 1999, did not hold back on Martínez after the game.
"I put this solely on Lisandro Martinez's shoulders," Schmeichel said on the international broadcast.
"This is an absolute disgrace how he played this game. Two weeks ago he came out and made some very, very strong statements against his teammates, against the football club, and it felt like he was trying to orchestrate a move. He's in the last year of his contract.
"What he did today, honestly, I have no words. The first goal, he's played a World Cup final, you can't defend the way he defended for the first goal and the penalty, I literally have no words how crazy that was. Then he walks off the pitch shaking his head as if he's done nothing wrong. So bad."
He added: "I might be accused of being on his back but I can point to so many goals they conceded this season where he's the main guy, where he is not doing the job he's supposed to do. I think his behavior two weeks ago, and what he did today with the penalty, it just shows you he's not a suitable player for Manchester United."
What did Lisandro Martinez say about Manchester United?
Schmeichel referenced explosive comments by Martinez following United's 2-0 loss to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Oct. 13.
In multiple interviews after the game, the defender expressed his view that United's hierarchy hadn't done enough to improve the squad in the summer."I expect more (investment), 100 percent," he told Prime Video. "I expect more from our technical director (Jason Wilcox). I have to be honest, as players we have to do more, but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night."
Martinez later added to CBS Sports: "We have many games and we have to rotate players and for me we don’t have the best squad at the moment compared with other top teams. But also as a club I expect more. I’m not going to close my mouth. We need more ambition."
The Argentina international eventually apologized for his comments.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man United legend launches extraordinary attack on ‘absolute disgrace’ Lisandro Martinez
