Roland Cutinho
Man United boss Erik ten Hag not being worried about the height of Lisandro Martinez
Manchester United manager, Erik Ten Hag has spoken about the club’s third signing, Lisandro Martinez, and his defensive capabilities. The Argentine centre-back has followed his former manager to Old Trafford and will look to contribute to the club’s success.
The 24-year-old was a key player at Ajax Amsterdam and his versatility impressed the fans. The Red Devils were aiming to bring in fresh additions in defence and Martinez’s qualities would have got him a ticket to England.
He was primarily used as a centre-back in the Eredivisie, however, he had also been deployed as a midfielder or a left-back. The Argentine was comfortable with the ball at his feet and that would have helped him draw in extra confidence from his manager.
It is safe to say that Manchester United needed such a defender who would hold possession, defend aggressively, and is also commanding at the back. The former Ajax centre-back’s quality of playing the ball from the back would be an added weapon for him and his teammates.
However, even after possessing such admirable skills, the defender has been called out for criticism due to his short stature. Given the tribalistic nature of football fandom, fans are usually committed to downplaying any of their rivals’ players.
Being 5ft 9in, Martinez is shorter than most Premier League centre-backs. One can certainly argue that he could struggle physically to compete in the air. However, Erik ten Hag has moved to the defence of the player by stating that his height has not been a sign of concern as he holds good aerial abilities.
Speaking to ESPN, the manager stressed the fact that he would be comfortable playing Martinez at his preferred position. He said:
“I think he’s not the tallest, but he is quite good in the air. I feel comfortable with that. Of course, you need the right balance. He has good timing — that’s one of his capabilities.”
Even after having tall centre-backs in the Premier League, it wouldn’t be the end of the world for defenders who don’t match the height profile. The world of football has witnessed the field being dominated by elite defenders who were pinpointed for the same reason.
However, as many have demonstrated over the years, being under six feet tall isn’t the deciding factor when it comes to the role of a centre-back. Several world-class defenders had a similar height to the Argentine and they had ruled the back-line for years.
Fabio Cannavaro’s height (5ft 9in) never stopped him from writing a legendary career. He is the last defender to win the Ballon d’Or and that does describe his smashing career with Juventus and Real Madrid.
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Barcelona’s top operator, Carles Puyol (5ft 10in) and Javier Mascherano (5ft 8in) pocketed strikers for fun. Even if this wasn’t enough, one notable defender who has been a revelation in the Premier League is Thiago Silva.
The 5ft 11 Brazilian international completely debunked the case that a club needs to sign only tall centre-backs to compete in England.
Martinez now has a golden opportunity to prove his detractors wrong. Erik ten Hag’s trust in him would help the 24-year-old prove the doubters wrong as he prepares for the upcoming season.
