How Lisandro Martinez Will Fit into Ten Hag’s Manchester United | Starting XI, Formation & Tactics

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After much negotiation, Manchester United have signed Argentine defender Lisandro Martinez for a reported fee of £46.5 million. Whilst he’s made his name in Europe as a centre back for Ajax, his skill set suggests that he could play further forward and with United still lacking a defensive midfielder, could he change positions?

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First up we have to discuss his strengths and weaknesses. Standing at around 5 foot 9, Martinez isn’t the tallest footballer but it does mean that he’s very mobile and agile. He also reads the game superbly well and is aggressive in challenges. But his standout attribute is his passing and his ability to instruct and dictate his team’s build up. Defensively, Martinez isn’t a physical monster but he plays with his head. His speed and agility make him very comfortable at tracking opposition players when they’ve got the ball. Often, Martinez will pressure an opponent's back, preventing them from turning. Meanwhile when Martinez is up against a player with a physical advantage, he stands close enough to step in but not close enough to be pinned by a forward’s strength or be turned by their speed. He used this to great effect in Ajax’s 4-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in last season’s Champions League. In this tie he was up against Erling Haaland, one of the most athletic and physical strikers in the world but he finished the game with 8 Tackles + Interceptions and he won 3 out of 3 ground duels with the Norwegian international.

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But where Lisandro Martinez really shines is on the ball. The Argentine international is one of the best ball playing defenders in Europe. Not only does he have a complete range but his technique is excellent as well. It might sound simple but his ground passes are crisp and don’t bounce, whilst his long passes are driven with speed and accuracy. And where possible, Martinez tries to pass to the receiver’s strong foot. This might not sound like a lot but it can grant his passing target an extra few seconds as it makes it easier to bring the ball under control. Martinez can also create chances directly. He loves a long pass over the top of defences into the right hand channel. This has proven to be highly effective for Ajax and last season he picked out Mazraoui making an untracked run. Whilst not as impressive, Martinez’s ground passes can be just as deadly. His confidence in his ability to escape pressure with body feints and quick direction changes gives him great composure on the ball. This sees him play with his head up, so when a gap appears in the defence he’s ready to play an accurate, line breaking pass. Using InStat’s Expected Assist model, which includes second assist passes, Lisandro Martinez had a value of 5.02 from last season of 0.13 per 90. That’s not just more than all of Manchester United’s centre backs combined but it’s more than the likes of Ruben Dias, Virgil van Dijk and Antonio Rudiger to name a few.

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So what does this mean for Manchester United?
Lisandro Martinez’s talent and skill set mean he could definitely play in a more advanced role.
He could fill in at left back or even defensive midfield if required but what’s important is Ten Hag’s structure in possession. Defensively, a midfield role would make use of his aggression and awareness whilst providing an option for United’s problem position. However, it’s not a role he’s played that often. A world class player in possession and a very capable defender without the ball, Lisandro Martinez is exactly what Manchester United have been missing at centre back.

But what do you think? Will Lisandro Martinez be a success at Manchester United? And where do you think he'll play? Let me know in the comments below!


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