Man Utd Star Fires Back at Scholes and Butt: 'Come to My House' Challenge Issued
The verbal sparring between Manchester United's current squad and former players who uphold Sir Alex Ferguson's legacy has escalated—with Lisandro Martínez seizing the moment to respond to Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt's "toddler" remarks made during a podcast appearance.
Martínez successfully contained Erling Haaland and his Manchester City teammates on Saturday during a derby clash that witnessed United claim a well-earned victory through strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu.
Prior to the Old Trafford showdown, Scholes and Butt had suggested that Martínez might be lifted by Haaland and tossed around like a "little toddler," yet the defender known as 'The Butcher' experienced minimal difficulty containing the Norwegian striker.
The Argentine, recognizing his moment to respond, paused to address journalists after the match and delivered cutting remarks. "Honestly, he can say whatever he wants," Martinez stated regarding Scholes. "I told him already, if he wants to say something to me, he can come to wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don't care."
United's Legends Don't Bring Issues Up in Person
United's Legends Don't Bring Issues Up in Person
Most criticism directed at United's struggling 2025–26 squad originates from television studios or, more frequently, through podcast platforms. This was the medium Scholes and Butt utilized to question Martínez's capacity to handle Haaland—a detail the 28-year-old emphasized when highlighting that confrontations never occur face-to-face.
"I think for me, I respect the relations [ex-players] when they want to help the club because everyone can talk on the television," Martínez explained. "... but when you see [them] here face to face, no one says anything in your face.
"For me, 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."
What Martínez might mention during his next encounter with Scholes or Butt is that Haaland managed only an xG of 0.13 during his 80 minutes on the field—he also recorded merely 14 ball touches before Pep Guardiola unexpectedly substituted him.
Guardiola: Man Utd Were the Better Team
Guardiola: Man Utd Were the Better Team
United's superiority over their local adversaries astonished not only neutral observers but individuals associated with both teams. What became crystal clear was that the Old Trafford crowd was energized for the battle—something Guardiola couldn't claim about his squad. "They had something we did not have. I've come many times here. But today we were not the level required to win these types of games," the disappointed Spaniard admitted.
"They have a new manager, and they had the energy in a derby that we didn't have."
Martínez also disclosed that Carrick had emphasized to the players the significance of defeating City for the club and its supporters, noting he introduced a "different mentality" to the locker room. "He won everything. He is a big legend."
Whether this expertise proves sufficient to propel United into next season's Champions League by the campaign's conclusion remains to be seen.