Gary Neville SLAMS Lisandro Martinez for ‘appalling and wimpish’ clearance to present Dejan Kulusevski Tottenham’s second purpose in Carabao Cup quarter-final

Gary Neville has slammed Lisandro Martinez for his ‘appalling and wimpish’ defending against Tottenham. 

Manchester United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup after suffering a 4-3 defeat against Ange Postecoglou‘s side. 

Ruben Amorim‘s side headed into the break a goal down after Dominic Solanke’s close-range finish opened the scoring. 

The visitors found themselves 2-0 down just a minute into the second-half when Martinez backheeled the ball into Dejan Kulusevki’s path and the Spurs winger scored inside the box. 

And Neville didn’t hold back in his assessment of the Argentinian defender while on commentary for Sky Sports.  

‘The next goal was always going to be key. It’s a little bit scruffy to start with but they get it out to that far side,’ the former United defender said. 

Gary Neville has slammed Lisandro Martinez for his ‘appalling and wimpish’ defending

Martinez’s (right) backheel lead to Dejan Kulusevski scoring just a minute after the break

The Tottenham winger took full advantage of Martinez’s mistake as Spurs claimed victory

‘Son, just that little roll round and overlap from Maddison a bit of quality. I have to say the clearance from Lisandro Martinez is quite simply appalling. 

‘To play that straight to Kulusevski and even though its on his weaker foot he doesn’t make the mistakes that the Manchester United players made in the first half when it presented at the edge of the box. He’s a little bit nearer but it’s emphatic.

‘He’s been let down by two poor mistakes Ruben Amorim he really has. You talk about structure, shape, patterns, tactics but the goalkeeper parries one out into the centre of the box and your centre back flicks with the outside of his left boot a wimpish clearance.’

Solanke scored his second of the match from distance for his ninth goal of the season to make it 3-0 after 54 minutes. 

Two howlers in possession by goalkeeper Fraser Forster invited United back into the tie. First, a misplaced a pass to Radu Dragusin inside his own six-yard box, enabling Bruno Fernandes to pounce and set up Joshua Zirkzee to pull one back.

Then, Forster took a poor touch to control a back pass by Archie Gray and took so long to readjust his feet and address the clearance that Amad Diallo was able to charge down his kick.

Son Heung-min then scored directly from a corner before a stoppage-time header by Jonny Evans provided a nervy ending for Spurs.