Erik Lamela reveals what he told Anthony Martial after slap incident as Sevilla prepare to face Man Utd

Erik Lamela opened up about an incident in which Anthony Martial was sent off for slapping him in a game between Tottenham and Manchester United.

On Thursday United take on Sevilla at Old Trafford for the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final.

Erik ten Hag’s men have already claimed a pair of Spanish scalps in the knockout stages of the competition, having bested Barcelona and Real Betis over two legs to qualify for the last eight.

And now they turn their attention to Europa League specialists Sevilla, who have claimed the competition six times in their history, including four times in the past nine years.

The first leg at Old Trafford on Thursday night will bring a reunion between Lamela and Martial, who clashed during Tottenham’s 6-1 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2020.

And Lamela has now revealed what he said to the Frenchman on the incident.

Lamela on Martial slap

In October 2020, United, already 2-1 down, were reduced to ten men against Spurs after Martial lost his cool with Lamela.

The pair were jostling as Spurs were preparing to take a corner, and Lamela's elbow appeared to make contact with Martial's neck. The United attacker responded by putting his hand on Lamela’s face, for which he received his marching orders.

Two years later Martial went on loan to Lamela’s current club, Sevilla, and the pair spoke about the incident.

Speaking to the Times Lamela said: “We got to know each other properly. The first thing I told Anthony when he arrived was that what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch.

“He was a good guy, he laughed about it and we got on well.”

On whether United fans would forget the incident so freely, the Argentinian added: “It’s part of football.

“I played for eight years for another team and I always wanted to beat them in any way possible. It’s normal they don’t like me.”