Erik ten Hag’s trust in Manchester United “warrior” Lisandro Martinez will be put to the check as Manchester City striker Erling Haaland objectives to prolong his red-hot streak in Sunday’s derby.
Haaland has made a blistering begin with City for the reason that becoming a member of the Premier League champion from Borussia Dortmund for £51 million ($57 million) in the shut season.
With 14 dreams in 9 games in all competitions for City, the Norway striker, enjoying in his first Manchester derby, will put United’s current revival to the test.
Only as soon as has Haaland been denied a aim in the Premier League this season, however United manager Ten Hag would possibly have the answer to taming the prolific 22-year-old.
When Ten Hag’s Ajax confronted Dortmund in the Champions League closing season, it stopped Haaland scoring and gained the crew match thanks in massive section to an stimulated show from a tenacious defender now plying his change with United.
Ten Hag introduced Martinez with him to Old Trafford in the summer time transfer window in a deal that may want to attain almost £57 million, and the 24-year-old is already producing commanding performances.
At 6 feet four inches (1.93 metres), Haaland will tower over Martinez, who is the Premier League’s smallest centre back at 5ft 9in.
But the aggressive Argentine does no longer let his diminutive stature end him taking the battle to opposing strikers.
Living up to the “Butcher of Amsterdam” nickname given to him at Ajax, Martinez has already earned cult hero fame amongst United fans with some ferocious tackling.
Partnering with Raphael Varane in central defence after Harry Maguire was once dropped two games into the season, Martinez has shored up a unit that used to be United’s Achilles heel final season.
United has received all 5 games in which Ten Hag has performed Martinez and Varane collectively at the coronary heart of the defence.
Ten Hag calls the Argentine a “warrior”, lauding his “attitude and hostilities spirit”.
But he is aware of preserving Haaland off the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium will be a tall order if Martinez does no longer get adequate assist from his team-mates.
“We do not play in opposition to Haaland, we play in opposition to Man City,” stated Ten Hag. “We are satisfied of our capabilities. If we act as a team, we can beat our opponents.
“We want to seem to ourselves. We have to operate at our quality with a appropriate sport plan. Then it is about execution. We will have to do one hundred percent.”
‘The most essential game’
Haaland’s predatory instincts supply City an even greater imposing appear than closing season, when it received the Premier League title in spite of missing an elite central striker.
However, City boss Pep Guardiola is nicely conscious that Martinez ought to pose a bold barrier to Haaland’s hopes of extending his run of scoring in seven successive club games.
“Erling is taller. But understanding from my experience, there is no doubt about Martinez. It’s now not the first time he’ll play in opposition to strikers taller than him,” Guardiola said.
Like Haaland, Ten Hag will be pitched into the Manchester derby cauldron for the first time.
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“I have performed many derbies. I be aware of what they are — the most essential game,” Ten Hag said.
Ten Hag may now not have records in the struggle for Manchester bragging rights, however he is no stranger to Guardiola.
Guardiola used to be Bayern Munich boss when Ten Hag coached the German club’s reserve team, with the Spaniard as soon as suggesting his former colleague ought to finally exchange him as City manager.
“It’s a high-quality compliment, first, however I’m a hundred per cent satisfied I selected Manchester United with the entirety in it, and I did not feel sorry about it for one second,” Ten Hag said.
After successive defeats plunged United into disaster at the begin of his reign, Ten Hag has recovered so impressively that he used to be voted the Premier League supervisor of the month for September on Friday.
Second-placed City is 5 factors in advance of fifth-placed United, and Guardiola advised his facet no longer to let the frenzied derby environment distract them from preserving that gap.
“We have to attempt to discern out what they are going to do, however you do not have to have greater emotions, every person is aware of what it is,” he said.
