Frank Christian
Fans of Manchester United are expressing their frustration over the team’s inconsistent performance this season under Erik ten Hag.
The manager is facing increased scrutiny after a modest 1-1 draw against FC Twente in their opening match of the UEFA Europa League at home.
So far in the 2024/25 season, the Red Devils have managed to win only three out of eight matches across all competitions, including a dominant 7-0 victory in the EFL Cup against Barnsley, who play in the third tier.
A 0-0 draw against Crystal Palace last weekend further fueled discontent among fans, as ten Hag’s side squandered several opportunities to secure a late win.
Despite this, ten Hag attempted to put a positive spin on the result, noting that things could have been worse, as defender Lisandro Martinez narrowly escaped a red card during the match at Selhurst Park.
Lisandro Martinez’s challenge at Crystal Palace
Martinez has gained a reputation for being a tough defender for United, and in the second half, he collided with Daichi Kamada.
Kamada appeared to be in pain as Martinez executed what seemed to be a two-footed challenge right in front of referee David Coote.
Contact or not, this quite easily comes under “serious foul play”, Lisandro Martinez should have received a red card for endangering Kamada.
We should not be deciding a punishment based on whether he ends a career with this action or not. pic.twitter.com/OTkmzUDaDi
— Has the Referee or VAR made a poor decision? (@PoorEPLreferees) September 21, 2024
The Crystal Palace players quickly approached Coote demanding a red card, but he opted to show Martinez a yellow card instead, with no VAR intervention from Stockley Park.
This decision was met with criticism from various pundits, as Martinez was fortunate to avoid contact with Kamada, and the Premier League has made its assessment public.
Lisandro Martinez’s Premier League suspension
After the EPL matches over the weekend, the Premier League’s Key Match Incidents panel gathered to review Martinez’s tackle along with other decisions.
This panel consists of three former players or coaches, a representative from the Premier League, and a member from the referees’ organization, the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL).
They unanimously supported Coote’s decision and the absence of VAR review but described the tackle as ‘ridiculous.’
“When looked at separately, this challenge is absurd. Martinez is incredibly lucky that he didn’t make actual contact with Kamada. Such challenges do not belong on the pitch,” they stated.
This conclusion is likely to upset Palace fans, but it means that Martinez will not face a suspension, having only missed one Europa League game during his three seasons at United.
Ten Hag’s team is set to face Tottenham in the Premier League on September 29.
