The Albany Gazette - Man Utd's Martinez hits back at Scholes after height jibes

Scholes and former United team-mate Nicky Butt poked fun at Martinez's chances of winning his duel with Manchester City striker Erling Haaland in Saturday's derby.

Butt joked the striker "would pick Martinez up and run with him" like a "dad after school running down the road with a little toddler" before Scholes laughed and said that "he'd score then throw him in the net".

But in their first game under interim boss Michael Carrick, United restricted City to just one shot on target as Martinez kept Haaland in check during the 2-0 victory.

When Scholes' comment about Haaland was put to Martinez, he said: "He can say whatever he wants. I told him already if he wants to say something to me, he can come to wherever he wants. To my house, wherever. I don't care.

"And I think, for me, I respect the relations when they want to help the club because everyone can talk on the television, but when you see them here face-to-face no-one says anything in your face.

"So, for me, I don't really care what they say. I just put focus on my performance, the performance of the team and I give everything to this club until my last day."

Asked if criticism from the likes of Scholes and Butt gave him extra motivation, Martinez said: "No, no, nothing. It doesn't give me anything. My motivation is my family. That's it."

Having seen Martinez's blast, Scholes didn't back down.

Posting, on Instagram on Sunday, the former England midfielder: "Someone's had a good game, was really happy for you. Tea, no sugar please!"

United's first win since Boxing Day was a much-needed boost after Ruben Amorim's recent sacking.

Martinez appears not be have been a fan of Amorim, judging by his pointed assessment of Carrick's immediate impact.

"So different, so different. Different mentality, different guy," he said.

"He knows what it really means, this club. He sent us that message that he played here for a long, long time. He won everything.

"He's a big legend. He wants to help the club and I think we were in a tough situation and today was the best moment to change that."

United still have a chance to salvage their troubled campaign by qualifying for next season's Champions League.

They sit in fifth place, one point behind Liverpool, and Martinez expects Carrick will make a major difference to their fortunes.

"When you have a coach like Michael Carrick, who really knows, who really can share with you the energy of the club and what it means, it's so different," Martinez said.

(J.Torres--TAG)