Paul Scholes says he will not apologise for brutal criticism of Lisandro Martinez

FootballSports
23 Jan 2026 • 10:56 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

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  • Paul Scholes has refused to apologise for his critical assessment of Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, despite admitting his initial remarks "weren’t great".
  • Scholes, alongside Nicky Butt, had previously suggested Manchester City striker Erling Haaland would easily overpower Martinez due to their size difference in last weekend’s Manchester derby.
  • Martinez directly challenged Scholes after Manchester United's 2-0 victory over City, asking him to address him face-to-face.
  • Scholes maintained his stance, stating that while the wording "wasn't great", he still believes it is a physical mismatch and hopes Martinez proves him wrong by performing consistently moving forward.
  • Scholes also predicted that former teammate Michael Carrick could be a long-term contender for the United job if he secures a top-four finish.

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