Ruben Amorim hails Lisandro Martinez for silencing his critics in win over Newcastle

Story byRuben Amorim hails Lisandro Martinez for silencing his critics in win over NewcastleThe Peoples PersonFri, December 26, 2025 at 11:43 PM UTC·4 min readManchester United head coach Ruben Amorim was full of praise for a number of his players after the club’s 1-0 victory against Newcastle, spotlighting Ayden Heaven, Patrick Dorgu and Lisandro Martinez for special mentions. He especially had good things to say about Martinez, whom he lauded for proving his doubters wrong. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMartinez impresses against NewcastleMartinez produced a solid performance alongside Heaven as United beat Newcastle on Boxing Day. He was named in the starting XI and even handed the armband in the absence of Bruno Fernandes. The Argentine didn’t disappoint. After Dorgu gave United the lead in the 24th minute, the Red Devils had to hold on for the three points and Martinez was crucial to this. He produced several vital blocks and challenges, most notably a crucial second-half intervention that came at a personal cost, as he took a heavy blow to the knee. Martinez was also unsurprisingly brilliant on the ball, which Amorim pointed out. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThough his height has often been singled out as a defensive liability, Amorim stressed that the defender not only competed effectively against Newcastle’s taller forwards but also exerted clear dominance in those duels. Amorim’s verdictAsked about United finishing the game with so many young players on the pitch, Amorim answered, “Yeah.