Come to my house and say it again: Angry Manchester United defender Martinez challenges Scholes to repeat mocking remarks

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has challenged Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt to repeat their mockery of the Argentina international to his face.

Scholes and Butt caused controversy prior to yesterday’s Manchester derby – won by United 2-0 after a magnificent performance in Michael Carrick’s first game in interim charge – when they poked fun at Martinez’s stature.

Commenting on the size difference between the former Ajax defender and City striker Erling Haaland, Butt told The Good, The Bad and the Football podcast: “Haaland would pick Martinez up and run with him. It’ll be like, you know, when you see a dad after school running down the road with a little toddler. That’s what it’d be like.”

Scholes added: “He’d score, then throw him in the net!”

Say it to my face – Martinez

World Cup winner Martinez was unimpressed with Scholes in particular and, having shackled Haaland with ease, told reporters: “Honestly, he can say whatever he wants. I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to me wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don’t care.

“I think, for me, I respect the relations when they want to help the club because everyone can talk on the television. But when you see [them] here face-to-face, no one says anything in your face.

“So I don’t really care what they say. I just put the focus on my performance, the performance of the team and I give everything to this club until my last day.”

Scholes responded on Instagram: “Someone’s had a good game, was really pleased for you… Tea, no sugar please.”

United have an army of former players in the media with Gary Neville and Roy Keane particularly prominent and they have not been shy in calling out the playing squad for the recent performances which led to the sacking of Ruben Amorim.

And Martinez added: “People always say whatever they want, it’s something that I can’t control. What I can only do is to show on the pitch and I think today I showed it.

“Imagine we have to think what people say. We have to be focused for the rest of this club. We want to change this situation and we are the only ones who can change it.”

Manchester United star hails Carrick

The 28-year-old paid tribute to Carrick after he inspired an instant improvement.

“Different mentality, different guy. So different,” added Martinez. “He knows what this club really means.

“He sent us the that message that he played here for a long, long time. He won everything. He is a big legend. He wants to help the club and I think we were in a tough situation, and today was the best moment to change that.

“When you have a coach like Michael Carrick, who really knows, who really can share with you the energy of the club and what it means, it’s so different.

“He was quiet (in training). He was smiling. He was really confident – and that helps a lot.”

Yesterday’s win moved United up to fifth in the Premier League table.