Paul Scholes tried to justify the pejorative comments he and Nicky Butt made towards Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez ahead of the Manchester City clash.
This latest episode sparked a debate over the over-the-top chastising former footballers-turned-pundits have been spewing in the media, and its negative effect on active players.
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Paul Scholes explains the comments he made about Lisandro Martinez
Back to the colourful world of Man Utd, the raging debate caused by the Scholes & Butt vs Martinez back-and-forth media spat was the elephant in the room when Scholes made an appearance alongside Jamie Carragher on The Overlap: Fan Debate.
The unpleasant episode was sparked by some ill-advised comments from the two former Man Utd midfielders ahead of the Derby, when they expected Erling Haaland to sweep Lisandro aside en route to goal, while making jokes at the Argentine defender’s expense, referencing his short stature.
However, the two legends were proven completely wrong, as Martinez managed to keep the towering Norwegian in his pocket, playing an instrumental role in United’s resounding 2-0 win. After the contest, the 2022 World Cup winner invited the pundits to make these sassy remarks to his face.While Butt had lashed out at Martinez earlier in the week, inviting him to ‘grow up’, Scholes took a more diplomatic approach, realising the wrong of his ways, although he still refused to apologise.
“No, I’m not apologising for it, no,” said the Man Utd icon on the Overlap as transcribed by The Sun.
“The thing we were trying to say was, we thought, and it still is, physically, it’s a mismatch. Now look, the way we described it probably wasn’t great and we probably shouldn’t have done that but still, it was [a mismatch].
“He’s had one good game. How many, two?I hope to God he proves me wrong, but look at the week before against Brighton, Danny Welbeck [scores]. Look at the week before that, Burnley. He gave the goal away against Burnley,” argued Scholes.
“I can see why he was offended by it, and that’s why I say we probably worded it not in a great way. And look, I hope he proves me wrong.
“He’s had a great game against City, he was brilliant but we’ve got to see that now for a season. And again, on Sunday [against Arsenal], it’s a big one for him.”
Very poor show from those two; gone down in my estimation, and a lot of other Reds as well.
And at a towering 5ft 6, Scholes really ought to know skill doesn’t rely only on height.
We’ve had Scousers disparaging Martinez, but at least they had the grace to admit they were wrong.
Support the players: Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber, Reds get enough abuse without those whose time has passed joining in.