Manchester United’s aspirations for qualifying in next season’s Champions League have been dealt a significant setback with the news that defender Lisandro Martinez is sidelined for at least eight weeks due to knee ligament damage.
The Argentine World Cup winner had recently made a comeback from a foot injury that had kept him out for the majority of the season.
Despite his return, Martinez’s impact was evident in United’s recent improvement in form.
During Sunday’s 3-0 victory over West Ham, the 26-year-old was forced to leave the pitch as his right knee buckled under the challenge from Vladimir Coufal during a possession battle.
In a statement, United confirmed Martinez’s injury, stating, “Lisandro Martinez has sustained an injury to the medial collateral ligament in his knee and is expected to be out of action for at least eight weeks.” The club expressed hopes for his speedy recovery and anticipated his return later in the season.
Martinez is now anticipated to miss a significant portion of the remaining campaign, although there is a possibility he could return for the final seven Premier League matches and the latter stages of the FA Cup.
Speaking about Martinez’s injury, United manager Erik Ten Hag expressed sympathy, saying, “He is very sad, very disappointed. We feel really with him.” Ten Hag highlighted Martinez’s importance to the team and acknowledged the loss his absence will bring.
As it stands, United currently sits sixth in the Premier League, trailing Tottenham by six points and eight points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, whom they are set to face on Sunday.
Securing a top-four finish guarantees Champions League football for the next season, while finishing fifth could also be sufficient depending on the performance of English teams in European competitions this season.
