Manchester United fell to a 2-0 away defeat against Chelsea, extending their winless streak to nine matches across all competitions. In the second half, Lisandro Martinez picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to be sent off while simultaneously conceding a penalty to the opposition.
During the match, Martinez was first shown a yellow card for a foul on Morgan Rogers, before catching Wesley Fofana in the face with a raised forearm while defending a corner kick. Following a VAR review, the referee awarded a penalty and issued Martinez his second yellow card; Cole Palmer subsequently converted from the spot to extend the lead to 2-0.
Commenting on the situation, The Athletic noted: “Martinez has been the worst player in the Premier League so far in the 2026-27 season. He has already been primarily responsible for Manchester United dropping points in three matches.”
In their prior UEFA Champions League campaign, following Manchester United's 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, Martinez publicly criticized the club's hierarchy, arguing that the squad was inadequately built and expressing hopes that management would do more regarding player recruitment. According to the BBC, Martinez was fined by Manchester United as a result and issued a public apology following meetings with senior executives and Michael Carrick.
Now aged 28, Martinez sees his existing contract expire in the summer of 2027, leaving roughly eight months remaining, with Manchester United holding an option to extend for an additional year. According to Sky Sports, whether he will secure a contract extension remains doubtful, as Manchester United plan to revamp their backline in upcoming transfer windows.