
<p><a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/teams/manchester-united-tv-schedule/">Manchester United</a> bounced back from their awful start to the season, with Lisandro Martinez epitomizing their forward progress.</p>



<p>Few would have considered the Reds to be <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">Premier League</a> title contenders before the season. In reality they aren’t. But, they are far better than in 2021/22 than anyone anticipated.</p>



<h2>Lisandro Martinez rejuvenated Manchester United</h2>



<p>One of the aspects of United’s downfall has been recruitment. Every single coach has found backing from the Glazer family to be inconsistent.</p>



<p>In addition, a wholly inadequate technical structure headed by investment bankers further contributed to a shambles of a transfer policy.</p>



<p>The club added players without any idea how they fit into a team. Sometimes there was even doubt over who would coach the players.</p>



<p>However, Lisandro Martinez was the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/2022/07/17/man-utd-agree-deal-with-ajax-for-argentinas-martinez/">first big transfer</a> of the Erik ten Hag era and he has shone. After huge initial criticism due to his height, the Argentine has been United’s best performing player in 2022/23.</p>



<p>He ranks highly in the Premier League for winning aerial duels. This is something the great Graeme Souness said was impossible.</p>



<p>Furthermore, he has composure on the ball and an ability to pass that would make him a gifted holding midfielder. People once thought Harry Maguire was good on the ball. Martinez’s arrival has shown people what a real modern defender looks like.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><p lang="fi" dir="ltr">1103 – Lisandro Martínez has bypassed 1,103 opponents in total with his passes in the Premier League this season, the most of any <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/ManUtd?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ManUtd</a> player:<br><br>1103 – Lisandro Martínez<br>890 – Diogo Dalot<br>635 – Christian Eriksen<br>565 – Luke Shaw<br>515 – Raphaël Varane<br><br>Laser. <a href="https:\/\/t.co/NLcXYpqIHu">pic.twitter.com/NLcXYpqIHu</a></p>— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1587383904712986625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 1, 2022</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Every week the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/nations/argentina-national-team-tv-schedule/">Argentine</a> defender has improved. His attitude has made those defenders around him actually take pride in a clean sheet.</p>



<p>He gets his team out of trouble. He finds passes which link the ball from defense to the midfield. Martinez sets the tempo for how Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United play.</p>



<h5>Manchester United no longer resemble a dumpster fire</h5>



<p>Manchester United’s technical structure is still far from perfect. At present it relies upon the knowledge of Ten Hag and his staff.</p>



<p>Unfortunately, that will only change once there is a change of ownership at Old Trafford. Although, fans dreaming of a Glazer exodus can finally console themselves with a coach who is truly in the elite bracket.</p>



<p>Every one of Ten Hag’s signings has improved the team. Every signing has a pre-thought place in the starting XI and excels in it.</p>



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<p>It might sound cheap, but Ten Hag’s recruitment has been almost <a href="https:\/\/www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/michael-edwards-next-club-liverpool-25384679" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Michael Edwards</a> esque in its hit-rate.</p>
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<p>Manchester United no longer resemble a dumpster fire. Finally the chaos has gone. Besides the fact the ownership structure is still abysmal, verging on a legalized version of theft, it must be said that the coaching setup is settled.</p>



<p>Ten Hag knows the players he wants and fans trust him. Manchester United’s displays are the same every week. That’s a positive. They have a clear style of play which the players understand and enjoy.</p>



<p>Every player knows their task. No longer do you have Paul Pogba just ambling around midfield without knowing if he should be defending or helping attacks… or both.</p>



<h5>Erik Ten Hag will need more signings</h5>



<p>Manchester United will not strengthen their squad the winter. In any event, only a possible Cristiano Ronaldo departure could change that.</p>



<p>However, United are heading into a transfer window for the first time in years not resembling a defective bucket. There aren’t countless holes to be filled. There isn’t a need for 7-10 players just to make the squad competitive.</p>



<p>Manchester United realistically need 2-3 Ten Hag signings to secure a spot inside the top four in 2023/24. Then another window after that with a similar strategy and you’d be able to realistically see a title challenge.</p>



<p>For some, this may not be enough. Not being in 1<sup>st</sup> every season is seen as a failure for United. Alas, this isn’t realistic under the current landscape of state-owned clubs skewing the sport.</p>



<p>Manchester United had a team in 2021/22 that didn’t even want to run. The work Ten Hag has done to get them challenging for the top four inside six months is exceptional.</p>



<p>Whether people want to acknowledge that or not, he’s working wonders. Finally Manchester United appear to be moving in the right direction. A modern direction.</p>



<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images</em></p>


Lisandro Martinez's form has encapsulated all the forward progress that Manchester United have made under Erik Ten Hag in 2022/23

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Leagues: Premier League

Lisandro Martinez shows Manchester United are moving in right direction