When Lisandro Martinez talks, there is a moment of calm amidst the chaos and hysteria.

In an essay for GQ published last month, he stated, “I always say, when something bad happens, it’s to bring something good.”

He better hope that “something good” happens against Harry Kane and company in Munich after putting in perhaps his worst performance in a Manchester United shirt against Brighton, which resulted in United suffering three losses in their first five games for the first time since 1989.

It will not surprise him that he receives criticism in the Premier League. It’s frequently tenfold at Manchester United.

After opening-round losses to Brentford and Brighton the previous season, he and his teammates were crucified. Last season, Martinez overcame his early setbacks to become one of Erik ten Hag’s essential pillars of strength. He was particularly impressive when playing at home against Liverpool.

Martinez appears to have drastically deteriorated this season, and the data support this

Martinez was singled out by former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel for having what he perceived as a hero-complex when it came to the second goal, scored by Pascal Gross, while the defense displayed little to no cohesiveness.

According to Schmeichel, “It is kind of what happens at Manchester United right now, it is very individual.”

Players like Martinez, for example, are attempting to intervene and block as a hero.

“This is well known. If we look at him there, he positions himself so that he is immediately in the goalkeeper’s path.

Martinez (middle) over-committed himself to block the shot, giving Pascal Gross time to score

Peter Schmeichel slammed Martinez’s defending and claimed he was trying to be ‘the hero’

He ought to be closing down or simply blocking while standing up. Avoid turning your body when blocking; instead, stand tall. Clearly, Manchester United’s situation is not good.

Martinez was acquired by United for £55 million from Ajax last summer with the goal of adding an enforcer and a pacesetter to their backline.

While that was true for significant stretches of last season, Martinez’s influence on the game has diminished this time around.

He now holds the 95th-best duels success rate (42.86%) out of 106 qualifying defenders this season, and he holds the seventh-best position for most opponents have dribbled past him, with Gross the most recent to do so.

For Nottingham Forest’s second goal he finds himself marking Aaron Wan-Bissaka, rather than Willy Boly, who is behind them both to chest in. Last season those sort of mistakes were uncharacteristic. This season it is increasingly commonplace in a backline that is crying out for leadership.

His own goal at Tottenham, as well as mistakes against Wolves, point to a player out of rhythm

At a time of such strife Erik ten Hag needs ‘The Butcher’ (left) to step up and be their leade