Man Utd hero Peter Schmeichel angry with two people after Lisandro Martinez Sevilla injury | Football | Sport
Manchester United legend Peter Schmeichel has criticised Erik ten Hag and Harry Maguire after Lisandro Martinez’s injury against Sevilla on Thursday night. The Argentina international went down in the closing stages of the game at Old Trafford. And he’s now set for a spell on the sidelines, with his team-mates throwing the game away in his absence.
Marcel Sabitzer’s double in the opening 21 minutes was chalked off in dramatic circumstances, with late own goals from Tyrell Malacia and Maguire earning Sevilla a draw.
And to make matters worse for the Red Devils, Martinez was stretchered off with the Argentina international now facing a spell on the sidelines as a result.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Schmeichel took aim at Ten Hag and Maguire – insisting the pair didn’t show enough leadership with Sevilla levelling the tie just minutes after Martinez was forced down the tunnel.
“Martinez gets injured and he is clearly in pain,” he said. “It looks like the Sevilla players are nice carrying him off the pitch.
“No, they wanted him out so they could get going.
“By carrying him off, it didn’t stop their momentum, Man United used their five subs so they knew he wouldn’t come back.
Man Utd takeover: Man Utd making plans for five players
“It didn’t give the manager or the players the opportunity to have a conversation.
“Man United players should have stopped that, leave him on the pitch, let them [the physios] come on and carry him out and in that period, you regroup.
“This is something the players need to do, that’s a lack of leadership on the pitch.
“Harry Maguire should have managed that situation. When the manager sees that his player is carried off by two opposition players, he should have stopped that.”
While Schmeichel criticised Ten Hag and Maguire, however, he did praise the likes of David De Gea, Casemiro and Sabitzer.
“It’s a fair enough result, the way that it developed in the second half,” said the Denmark international.
DON’T MISS
Benni McCarthy salary decision at Man Utd speaks volumes
Man Utd have finally signed another Di Maria
Man Utd get approval for Joao Felix transfer
“The players of Manchester United have missed a very good opportunity here.
“A few players today need to have a look at themselves and think about whether they are contributing to the team enough. There are a few players who should be embarrassed with their performances.
“De Gea played well, he made two fantastic saves, couldn’t do anything about the goals.
“He kept Man United in the lead to no avail. Casemiro came back and played really well as well.
“The best player is the guy who scored two goals, Marcel Sabitzer was really good.
Want the latest football news? Join our brand new Facebook group by clicking here
“His team-mates have let him down. he showed the way and they didn’t catch on to it.
“It’s 2-2 and as a Man United supporter, I’m really disappointed. This could and should have been a 5-0 win.”
And Schmeichel believes his old side aren’t a top European team either, insisting their late collapse was deserved.
“Man United are not a top European team yet,” he said.
“I was saying they needed to go for the third goal with 28 minutes played. They needed to up the tempo and get the crowd going again.
“That is a ability that they haven’t got and it is necessary if you want to build yourself into a top European team.
“Every time Man United have been successful in Europe, they have had that so that is something that ten Hag needs to add to the squad.
“It was a little bit casual. Sevilla were too average in the first half and that made it too easy. Nothing is easy in top European football.
“No-one gets to this point by luck or being a bad team. Any team that gets an opportunity will take it and they did. Fair dos to Sevilla.
“That is my worry, the lack of ability to manage the game. We have seen this a couple of times this season. That is something that ten Hag needs to add to this team.”
