Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola believes Manchester United’s 5’9 defender Lisandro Martinez can ‘handle’ bigger strikers like Erling Haaland.

Asked about the competition between Haaland and Martinez on Sunday, Guardiola said: “Erling is taller, that’s for sure. But I like it when people underestimate players because of their height. He can tell them: “I’m here, I’m a good player.” player, I can play everywhere.” Great player, everyone saw him.”

“If United will spend this money on him, because Eric, of course, knows him from Ajax, there is no doubt about it. It’s not the first time he’s played against taller forwards than him. In the Netherlands I’m sure there is a better striker in “It’s important to be smart, to be brave. But of course in the penalty area the crosses in this position are longer than Erling, that’s right, so we’ll see what happens.”

Translation by Safwan Shami