Manchester United’s defense was once again at the center of the spotlight following a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Nottingham Forest.
The problems began early in the match, as Forest took a surprise lead just two minutes in.
Nikola Milenkovic capitalized on a set piece, heading past United’s defense, with Lisandro Martinez failing to match the Serbian’s physicality.
Redknapp and Jones Critique Martinez’s Role
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp did not hold back when discussing Martinez’s performance, labeling the Argentine as being “like a little boy” when trying to defend Milenkovic.
Redknapp pointed out how Martinez was “bullied” by the towering Serbian, who scored a powerful header with ease.
Former United defender Phil Jones also criticized Martinez, stating that his positioning was off as he focused too much on blocking his opponent rather than tracking the ball.
Dalot and Onana Share the Blame
In addition to Martinez, Diogo Dalot also came under fire for his part in the opening goal. Jones explained that Dalot’s lack of awareness left him “sucked underneath” the ball, allowing the cross to reach Milenkovic.
But the mistakes didn’t end there—Andre Onana also faced criticism after letting a shot from Morgan Gibbs-White slip through his grasp early in the second half, giving Forest a 2-1 lead.
Forest Capitalize on United’s Defensive Weaknesses
As if that wasn’t enough, a bizarre goal from Chris Wood in the 54th minute saw him head the ball over Onana and into the net despite being in a relatively manageable position.
Bruno Fernandes did manage to pull one back for United, but their inability to fix their defensive errors left them unable to find an equalizer, allowing Forest to claim all three points.