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Rio Ferdinand calls Lisandro Martinez the best defender in the Premier League ‘in form at the moment’ and praises Erik ten Hag for getting the best of the World Cup winner ‘tactically’ since following the Dutchman from Ajax
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Lisandro Martinez is currently the premier defender in the Premier League based on form.
The World Cup-winning Argentine has been crucial to United’s resurgence this season, despite arriving under a cloud of doubt and acrimony from Ajax in the summer.
He’s enjoying a particularly purple patch for the Red Devils at the moment, and once again he was impressive against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
And his catalytic impact on United’s newly strengthened defense has seen club captain Harry Maguire relegated to the bench, and Victor Lindelof linked with a estrangement with the pair seeing greatly reduced playing time this season.
Fernando told his FIVE podcast that there was no ‘argument’ that the summer signing was currently the best in class at the heart of the defence, praising several of his virtues, namely his aggression, command and communication.
Rio Ferdinand assured that Lisandro Martínez is the best defender in the Premier League in form
Martínez impressed again in Saturday’s 2-1 home win over Crystal Palace
“In form right now, I don’t think there’s much of an argument coming from anywhere else,” he began.
“I think he’s dominant, he’s aggressive, he’s a leader, he communicates well, he shows character, he’s there in the big moments.”
But the iconic former England and United star was also quick to praise Erik ten Hag’s role in manipulating his team’s possession to get the best of Martinez.
The Argentine followed Erik ten Hag to Old Trafford from Amsterdam over the summer, and has flourished again with the Dutchman.
However, Ferdinand admitted that he was one of those who wondered how the 25-year-old, who stands just 1.75m tall, could compete in a division as infamously physical and combative as the Premier League.
“But I was one of those asking, ‘Will he be able to compete physically here if the teams isolate him, if the teams isolate him?’ he continued.
‘And that’s where Erik ten Hag has relied on being able to tactically keep teams away from being able to dominate possession enough to isolate someone like Martinez.
And, until now, it has not been exposed in that sense. On a regular basis, week after week, aren’t we sitting there thinking, “That’s a recurring problem, there. It keeps happening, someone is pulling him and jumping on him or physically harassing him.”
Ferdinand praised the 25-year-old’s ‘dominance’ and his ‘aggressiveness’ at the heart of the defense
Martínez spent three seasons with Erik ten Hag at Ajax before following him to United
“We haven’t seen that, that hasn’t become the narrative, and you have to say good for him, but also for the recruiting so far.”
Since his Premier League debut, Martínez has managed 30 games in all competitions, scoring once against Arsenal in the recent 3-2 loss to the Emirates.
In that time, he also racked up an impressive 56 tackles, 21 blocks, 105 clearances and 32 interceptions in all competitions for his club.