- Manchester United centre-back in awe of teammate
- Yoro praises his defensive partner
- Red Devils pair have played 21 games together
Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro has admitted he is in awe of his defensive partner Lisandro Martinez.
On an episode of Inside Carrington, Yoro said he has “never seen a centre-back with this high of an ability with the ball. It is just crazy.”
He added:
“I try to bring the ball forward every time when I can. I know I have to improve on this; it is my main target. For a centre-back today, it is really important to be good with the ball.”
Martinez is widely lauded for his on-ball ability. The Argentine World Cup winner possesses a phenomenal sense with it, almost playing like a midfielder rather than a centre-back.
He is integral to United’s squad; as a left-footer, he allows the team to build from the back with better balance and improved passing angles.
Martinez and Yoro Partnership
Contrary to the fact, Martinez and Yoro have not enjoyed the most successful partnership so far. Across 21 games played together, the pair have recorded eight wins, six draws, and seven losses. The equivalent of 1.43 points per game.
Extrapolate this over a league season, and you are left with just 54 points. But, of course, there are other factors at play here.
Last season was not a good time for Yoro to join the club. Under the guise of Erik ten Hag, and later Ruben Amorim, the club plummeted to 15th in the table—their lowest top-flight finish since 1973/74, the season they got relegated.
It was simply not an ideal moment to be playing for the Red Devils. That is especially true for a youngster adapting to life in the Premier League.
Under Michael Carrick, the two have featured in just two games together. They won 3-2 against Fulham and drew 1-1 against West Ham.
With Maguire out suspended, and Martinez possibly back from injury, we may soon see the two start together for just the second time this season.
Why Martinez is so Important
Without Martinez at the back, Manchester United simply cannot build from the back with the same fluency. Without his left foot, the team’s build-up is severely compromised.
Beyond his ball-playing ability, Martinez is a fierce competitor who will do anything to unsettle opponents. Despite standing just 5ft 9in, the Argentine is “tough as nails” and consistently effective in one-on-one duels.
The only issue ‘the butcher’ has is that he is injury-prone. Since joining United in 2022, Martinez has endured seven injuries, keeping him sidelined for 616 days and preventing him from playing 96 matches for club and country.
When he plays, Martinez is a difference-maker and vital to the squad. Yet his injuries have kept the Argentine out for far too long, and at times, he can feel like a liability.
