Stam appreciates Martinez's mix

While the Treble winner was a similarly aggressive centre-back, he believes our current no.6's ability on the ball and desire to play forward passes have become just as valuable to the way Erik ten Hag wants his team to play.

Stam, who celebrates his 51st birthday today (Monday), feels there is still a place for controlled aggression in the modern game, where VAR will pick up on any serious wrongdoing. But the former Reds defender is keen to stress Martinez brings a whole lot of other qualities to the team, making it easy to see why the manager was so determined to bring the South American to England.

“I think Martinez has done very well,” Stam told us. “In the beginning of last season, I think he needed to adjust to the league and to the opposition and how they can play.

“But, since then, he's been very good, very composed on the ball. He's finding the right free man in midfield as well. His passing is very, very good.

“Defensively, he may not be the biggest, and there's been a lot of discussion about that, but he's very clever in his one-v-ones and his duels. So he's using his body well.

“His positioning is good so he's been very impressive and, hopefully, after his injury, he's coming back now. Hopefully, he can keep that up this season as well. But, of course, he needs to have players around him to help him out at times, as well. That's important, I think, for every player in every position.”

It may be a different game in 2023 to the one when Stam and his colleagues fended off all-comers in 1999, with Sir Alex Ferguson's side more than capable of winning any physical scrap on the pitch.

However, the combative nature displayed by Martinez is something that remains of great value, and is still a trait hugely admired by the United fanbase.

“You know you need to be aware of the VAR, at the moment, so you can't do anything,” smiled the Dutchman. “Well, you can't do everything any more, like back in the day!

“You can at times, give an extra knock or a little bit of a tug on somebody. But now, with the VAR, there are a lot of cameras and they see everything!

“So you still need to be able to be aggressive but you need to know how to do it, how to use your aggression.

“I still think that, in the Premier League, if you have the right aggression, and your timing is right in the challenge, then you still have the advantage as a defender.

“But, if you don't have the aggression, if you can't be close or be tight to your opposition, then you make it easy for the [attacking] players to open up and to find that decisive pass or to score a goal. So you still need to be aggressive.

“And it's how we use the term 'aggressive' and being aggressive at times as well. It's not being aggressive in making lots of fouls. It's about being aggressive in approaching your opponent and being tight and close, not giving him the time to open up and to find his fellow team-mate.”

Martinez started in last week's 2-0 win over Leeds United in Oslo, making his comeback from the foot injury he sustained in last season's Europa League home clash with Sevilla.

The defender is expected to be involved again when Ten Hag's men take on Lyon, at BT Murrayfield, on Wednesday afternoon. The 14:00 BST kick-off is being shown live on MUTV, ManUtd.com and the United App.

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