Lisandro Martinez’s reaction to derby win shows exactly what he brings to Manchester United

Manchester United’s derby day victory over Manchester City on Saturday afternoon was a fixture full of emotion, drama, and determination.

Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford’s goals were cause for incredible jubilation among the fans and players alike, with Luke Shaw describing the atmosphere as the best he has ever witnessed at Old Trafford.

“I’ve been here a long time, I think eight years, and today the atmosphere was the best I’ve been involved in,” Shaw told MUTV at full time.

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The electric and palpable atmosphere in the Stretford End was back to the good old days, almost sucking the ball across Ederson’s line through sheer willpower and, frankly, an unrivalled amount of noise.

However, one reaction which has gone slightly unnoticed is that of Lisandro Martinez. To the surprise of many, the man affectionately known as “Licha” amongst Manchester United fans did not resume his place in Erik ten Hag’s starting XI, with the Dutch manager instead opting to play Shaw alongside Raphael Varane instead.

Shaw and Varane together had a fantastic game, rendering the threat of Erling Haaland almost completely null and void for the 90 minutes of the game in what was one of the most coherent defensive performances United have displayed in a long, long time.

When Marcus Rashford slid in to score the eventual winner, he subsequently ran to the corner flag to display his new signature celebration of holding one finger up to his temple, and was met with a flying Martinez who had bolted down the touchline in his warm-up gear to celebrate in his signature style alongside his teammates.

His desire and sheer emotion in the goal going in despite the fact he had played no real part in the match speaks volumes on Licha’s character – he does not differentiate between success when he is playing versus success when he is not; all that matters to him is the team’s success, which is a trait that is becoming increasingly hard to come by in the modern footballing era.

The traits of passion and desire have become somewhat ‘memed’ in the last decade of football, with ‘playing for the badge’ a phrase that is sometimes associated with players who try and make up for a lack of technical ability with heart and willingness to sacrafice.

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However, Lisandro Martinez is the perfect reminder of just how crucial these traits are in a side that wants to conquer the land and win it all. It is absolutely vital to celebrate your teammates’ successes just as often and as much as your own, as that is the essence of a ‘team’ – there is no single individual who must stand out or be held above the rest, and that is exactly what will make Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United successful in the long run.

“UNITED!!!” is the message he put up on social media at full time, and that is exactly what this squad is.