{"id":699034,"date":"2026-01-16T03:31:25","date_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:31:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/699034\/"},"modified":"2026-01-16T03:31:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T03:31:25","slug":"nicky-butt-and-paul-scholes-face-fan-backlash-for-mocking-man-united-stars-battle-with-erling-haaland-and-the-stats-prove-they-are-wrong","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/699034\/","title":{"rendered":"Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes face fan backlash for mocking Man United star’s battle with Erling Haaland –\u00a0and the stats prove they are WRONG"},"content":{"rendered":"

By TARA ANSON-WALSH, FOOTBALL REPORTER<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 17:31 EST, 15 January 2026 | Updated: 17:39 EST, 15 January 2026 <\/p>\n

Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have invited criticism from sections of the Manchester United<\/a> fanbase after the pair appeared to mock\u00a0Lisandro Martinez<\/a>‘s ability to deal with Erling Haaland<\/a> ahead of this weekend\u2019s Manchester derby.<\/p>\n

The former United midfielders were speaking on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast as they discussed United’s chances against Manchester City<\/a>, who visit Old Trafford on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n

Comedian and United supporter Paddy McGuinness<\/a> suggested the side could benefit from a bounce under Michael Carrick, saying: ‘You know that new manager lift? I can see United beating City.’<\/p>\n

Scholes agreed, adding: ‘I could see them beating City with Amorim. I don\u2019t think they (City) are anywhere near where they have been.<\/p>\n

‘They\u2019re amazing standards to get to, don\u2019t get me wrong, but there\u2019s something about them, I still don\u2019t think they\u2019re quite right.’<\/p>\n

Butt then raised concerns about United’s defensive options, particularly in dealing with Haaland, who has scored 20 goals in 21 games this season.<\/p>\n

\"Nicky <\/p>\n

Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have invited criticism from sections of the Manchester United fanbase after the pair appeared to mock Lisandro Martinez’s ability to deal with Erling Haaland<\/p>\n

\"Butt <\/p>\n

Butt and Scholes claimed that Haaland would be able to ‘pick Martinez up and run with him’<\/p>\n

‘I think if United get the injuries back \u2013 as in Maguire, De Ligt and them kind of players – then we\u2019ve got a chance,’ Butt said. ‘But I just feel with the younger players, they\u2019ve done brilliantly \u2013 Heaven’s been unbelievable to be fair \u2013 but I wouldn\u2019t like to see them against Haaland.’<\/p>\n

Scholes interjected: ‘Martinez against Haaland,’ before wincing.<\/p>\n

Butt continued: ‘Haaland would pick Martinez up and run with him. You know when you see a dad at school running down the road with a little toddler.’<\/p>\n

Scholes laughed and added: ‘He\u2019d score then throw him in the net.’<\/p>\n

The remarks have sparked backlash on social media, with some supporters accusing the former players of showing a lack of respect towards the World Cup-winning centre-back, who has been a key figure in United\u2019s defence in recent seasons.<\/p>\n

One fan wrote: ‘This is so bad coming from the so called legends, how do you mock a player like this, and even laughing about it, it\u2019s a big shame.’<\/p>\n

Others were also quick to point out Martinez’s strong record against Haaland, with the Norwegian failing to net in five of the six games that he has faced him. <\/p>\n

One of those encounters came while Martinez was at Ajax against Haaland\u2019s Borussia Dortmund, while the other five have taken place since both players moved to Manchester.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\" \"United <\/p>\n

United fans accusing the former players of showing a lack of respect towards Lisandro Martinez, who has been a key figure in United\u2019s defence in recent seasons<\/p>\n

Haaland\u2019s only goals in those fixtures came in a single match – City\u2019s 6-3 win against their neighbours during their treble-winning season – with Martinez keeping him quiet in the other five games.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And in terms of win rate, Haaland has won just two of those six meetings, losing the other four.<\/p>\n

Another person posted on X: ‘He (Martinez) played against Haaland in the Champions League and won 4-0 when Ajax beat Dortmund, (sic) he played against Haaland in the cup final when Utd won, Haaland didn\u2019t score then either. In 6 games against Martinez, he didn\u2019t score in 5 of them.’<\/p>\n

Haaland’s manager Pep Guardiola memorably heaped praise on Martinez’s performance after the 2024 FA Cup final, which United beat City 2-1, calling the Argentine the ‘difference’.<\/p>\n

‘Lisandro Martinez is top 5 center-backs on the world,’ Guardiola said at the time. ‘He made the difference on this game by playing passes through our defence’.<\/p>\n

Regardless of what Saturday brings, any meeting between the pair looks set to be a far sterner tussle than Butt and Scholes might have fans believe.<\/p>\n


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\n<\/a><\/p>\n

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