Joe Cole: Martinez's Man United time is done after Chelsea red card
Manchester United's nightmare run continued with a 2-0 loss at Chelsea yesterday, leaving them winless in nine matches and flirting with the relegation zone. Morgan Rogers opened scoring with a brilliant solo run, brushing past United's midfield before beating keeper Senne Lammens.
Lisandro Martinez, Argentina's 2022 World Cup winner, had a horror show. First booked for hauling down Rogers after failing to handle his pace, the defender then raised his forearm into Wesley Fofana during a set-piece. VAR confirmed the penalty and second yellow, sending Martinez off just four minutes later.
The dismissal caps a toxic month for Martinez, who publicly slammed United's internal culture after their Champions League exit to Atletico Madrid and took aim at football director Jason Wilcox. His contract expires in June, though United hold a 12-month extension option.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Chelsea legend Joe Cole didn't hold back: "Whatever the next Manchester United looks like, I think Lisandro Martinez has run his course. He's at the scene of the crime too often... that's probably his time done." Cole called the red card "unfathomable" — a loss of discipline when United needed composure most.
With United's season unraveling, the club faces a brutal decision: cash in on Martinez in January, trigger the extension to protect asset value, or let a World Cup winner walk for free in six months. For a fanbase used to titles, not relegation battles, the Martinez saga symbolizes how far standards have fallen.
Should United cut losses in January or back the Argentine for one last push?