Things are not well with Ten Hag’s side as star defender of Manchester United and World Cup winner Lisandro Martinez will miss the rest of the season owing to a fractured foot, which he had suffered during the Europa League match against Sevilla, where his side squandered a 2-0 lead to salvage a 2-2 draw, with an own goal by Harry Maguire in the dying minutes.
Martinez ruled out for season with fractured leg
According to medical reports, he seems to have fractured his metatarsal as a result of which he will be unavailable for selection in the remaining matches. To add to their injury woes, his central defense partner Raphael Varane is also set to miss few games with a troubling foot injury which forced him off the field in the half-time break.
An injury affecting the season
Martinez has been a clutch player for Ten Hag’s side this season, after his arrival from Dutch champions Ajax last summer, while featuring for the side on 45 occasions in all competitions. He even added a jewel to his crown when he won the World Cup with Argentina, being adjudged one of the best defenders in the tournament by critics.
He will always be remembered for his last-minute dying tackle against Australia, which led to comparisons of him to “Albiceleste” legend Javier Mascherano, for his never-give-up attitude.
He went down unchallenged in the final few minutes of the game, and was taken off the ground. A United statement regarding his injury was published which said, “Lisandro Martinez has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot. However, the Argentinian defender is expected to make a full recovery in time to be ready for the start of next season.”
Brothers for life
Martinez’s injury may be brutal, but the affection and care that his Argentine brothers from the opponents, Sevilla showed has touched million of hearts. He was carried off the field by his Argentine teammates Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuna, a gesture which has inspired and touched millions.
As bad as it gets, Ten Hag will now be considering options and weighing on seasoned center-halves, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, as he have to bank on both of them for the remainder of the season.
Ten Hag reported, “I have a lot [of faith], I think I have decent center-halves and they proved that in the past, they have proved this season. I think we have four or five very good center-halves who can do the job.”
Now, time will only say if the two players who were outcast by United staff would live up to their expectations.
