Following Man Utd's 4-0 victory over Sabah FK in their Champions League qualifying round opener at Old Trafford on 10/9, Lisandro Martinez participated in an interview on CBS with Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher, and Micah Richards. Richards often asks guest players which pundit on the panel they admire most.

When asked, Martinez quickly chose Henry. He stated his preference for watching the former Arsenal striker, eliciting reactions from Richards and Carragher. Carragher promptly inquired, "What about us defenders?"

Martinez responded, "I only like watching quality players."

This remark caused Henry, Carragher, and Richards to applaud and burst into laughter.

Lisandro Martinez and Jamie Carragher during a post-match interview after the Champions League qualifying round match between Man Utd and Sabah FK at Old Trafford, Manchester, England on 10/9/2026. Photo: AP

The Argentine center-back's choice of Henry, a striker who won numerous titles with Arsenal and Barca and the 1998 World Cup with France, subtly implied that the former Liverpool defender was not among the players Martinez enjoyed watching.

Carragher is no stranger to Martinez. When the Argentine defender joined Man Utd from Ajax in 2022, the former Liverpool defender expressed doubts about the transfer due to Martinez's height, which is around 1,75 m.

After Man Utd lost to Brighton and Brentford in their first two matches of the 2022-2023 season, Carragher argued that Martinez would struggle as a center-back in a four-man defense in the Premier League. He even asserted that Martinez's height posed a significant problem for the position, suggesting he might be better suited as a left-back or in a three-man defense.

However, events unfolded differently. Martinez quickly became a standout player for Man Utd in the 2022-2023 season. His tackling ability, positional awareness, and ball-playing skills left a significant mark at Old Trafford.

Carragher later admitted his initial assessment was wrong. In 5/2023, he lauded Martinez as "a warrior and a leader," and apologized to the player and Man Utd fans for his previous comments.

Lisandro Martinez with the ball after scoring Man Utd's fourth goal in their 4-0 victory over Sabah FK in the Champions League qualifying round at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, on 10/9/2026. Photo: AP

Carragher revisited this topic during the post-Sabah interview. He told Martinez that upon his arrival at Man Utd, he believed the defender was too short for Premier League success, but Martinez had proven him wrong over four or five years of playing in England. Carragher even conceded that Martinez had "won him over."

Martinez responded that players sometimes receive such comments from pundits and need to be smart enough not to let them affect them. He explained that dwelling on criticism could hinder performance, so he focuses solely on contributing to the club that trusted him from day one.

Richards, however, pressed further, asking Martinez if he had ever watched Carragher play and what he thought of the former Liverpool center-back. Martinez paused, asking, "As a player?"

He then replied, "A good person."

Richards had asked Martinez to evaluate Carragher as a player, but Martinez chose to describe him as "a good person." He avoided calling Carragher a good, strong, intelligent, or watchable defender, shifting the focus from professional skill to personal quality. This made the comment even more humorous given their shared history.

Martinez maintained a composed demeanor throughout both responses. He did not directly attack Carragher or mention the former Liverpool defender's incorrect predictions. His brief, nonchalant answers allowed the audience to infer the rest.

On the field, Martinez also had a memorable evening. He sealed Man Utd's 4-0 victory over Sabah, scoring his first career goal at Old Trafford. Matheus Cunha opened the scoring, followed by goals from Bruno Fernandes and Benjamin Sesko before Martinez completed the host's win.

Hoang An