Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag remains hopeful that center-back Lisandro Martinez will make a comeback before the conclusion of the season, despite his recent injury setback.
Martinez sustained medial collateral ligament damage in his right knee during Sunday’s 3-0 victory over West Ham United. Although he initially attempted to continue playing, he eventually had to concede defeat in the 71st minute. The club later confirmed the nature of the injury and projected an absence of at least eight weeks, ruling out a return before April and casting doubt on his participation for the remainder of the campaign.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Ten Hag acknowledged the setback, stating, “It is a setback, of course. Licha was just returning, and you see his contribution to the team when he is playing. Apart from his technical skills, he also brings a mentality to the team. It’s a big setback for Licha. He is very disappointed, but he is a fighter, and he will be back stronger. We think he will still be back by the end of the season.”
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Despite Martinez’s absence, Ten Hag expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to cope, saying, “There are games to play, so as a squad, we have to replace him. We have very good players in that position who will play and perform, and as a squad, we have to deal with it.”
Martinez is expected to miss eight games over the next eight weeks, starting with the Premier League clash against Aston Villa on Saturday. The Argentine’s injury woes date back to the previous season when he suffered a broken metatarsal during Europa League action against Sevilla. Although he recovered for the new campaign, subsequent aggravations in matches against Arsenal, Brighton, and Bayern Munich led to his absence for the remainder of 2023. Martinez made his return last month but now faces another hurdle on the road to recovery.