Man Utd is back: "Lisandro" reveals Michael Carrick's key words that fired up the Red Devils to beat Manchester City and close in on the top 4 (Video).","tags":["Manchester United","Michael Carrick","Lisandro Martinez","Premier League","Manchester City","Football"]},{
On 18 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Lisandro Martinez, Manchester United defender, gave an interview after the 2025-26 Premier League Week 22 headline match where United beat local rivals and league runners-up Manchester City 2-0 at home.
This marked a strong start for Michael Carrick in his role as interim manager through the season's end, guiding Man Utd to a win after a run of four matches without victory across all competitions (three draws in the league, one loss, and an FA Cup third-round exit).
Following this match, Man Utd increased their points tally to 35, placing 5th in the Premier League standings, just one point behind 4th-place Liverpool, keeping their hopes alive for a UEFA Champions League spot this season.
Lisandro Martinez shared his feelings after Man Utd’s impressive comeback to defeat Man City, saying, "Being here with the fans and the team, we fully understand how much patience we needed during the season."
"But the only thing we have to do is show our true character, and today was the best moment to do so—not just the players on the pitch but the entire staff as well."
The Argentine defender also revealed what Michael Carrick told the team before kickoff: "I think one important thing Carrick said was ‘use the energy from the people,’ and today I believe we did that. When we work together like this, it becomes impossible to lose at home."
"When you play with players like these, defending is not just the job of one or two players. Today, we defended very well and stayed compact throughout. Then, you gain the confidence to challenge physically. Today, you could feel a different energy when you looked into the players’ eyes. The team won, and that’s what matters most."
