‘We knew we had a weapon’ – Brentford boss confirms he targeted Manchester United star in crushing win

Brentford boss Thomas Frank has confirmed that his side deliberately targeted Manchester United’s diminutive new centre-back Lisandro Martinez in Saturday’s 4-0 drubbing.

The west London club ran riot against the Red Devils in 35 frenetic first-half minutes, with David de Gea letting a shot squirm through his hands before the Spaniard’s poor pass allowed Brentford to swarm Christian Eriksen and double their lead.

Shortly afterwards, Martinez was bullied at a set-piece by Brentford centre-back Ben Mee to put the hosts three goals ahead before a sweeping counter saw Bryan Mbeumo make it four.

Summer signing Martinez, who is just 5ft 9in, struggled to cope with Brentford’s physicality and aerial prowess and was hauled off at half-time – though Erik ten Hag later admitted that any of the 11 players who started could have been taken off at the break.

Nevertheless, Frank says Brentford identified United’s new Argentine centre-back as a match-up they could dominate and felt Brighton also exploited Martinez’s lack of height last weekend.

Asked if the £56.7million signing from Ajax was deliberately targeted, Frank told Sky Sports: ‘We knew we’d more likely either win it or the second ball around it.

‘Of course we looked at what Brighton did well against them, and Brighton are also like us in the way they want to play.

‘Normally Brighton always build from the goalkeeper, but they went long every single time so of course we looked at that. We knew we had that weapon so that’s why we did it.’

Pundit Jamie Redknapp has already written off Martinez’s ability to play at centre-back in the Premier League and feels his lack of height and physicality means he might have to be used in midfield instead.

‘If you’re going to sign a 5ft 9in