Manchester United's Ruben Amorim calls Lisandro Martinez injury 'serious situation'

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim expressed significant concern over the injury sustained by his centre-back, Lisandro Martinez, during the club’s 2-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on February 2. The injury occurred in the 76th minute of the Premier League clash when Martinez was stretchered off the field following a heavy on-ball challenge with Palace winger Ismaila Sarr. The injury has raised concerns that the Argentine may be facing another extended spell on the sidelines, adding to United’s growing injury woes.

The defeat, which saw Jean-Philippe Mateta score a brace for Palace, further highlighted the Red Devils’ ongoing struggles with consistency. However, the injury to Martinez took centre stage, casting a dark shadow over the team’s already fragile defence. Speaking after the match, Amorim was clearly shaken by the injury, calling it a “serious situation” and stressing that it could be a significant blow to United’s defensive depth.

“We are going to see in the next days but I think it is a serious situation. He is not only a great player but a strong character in the dressing room. He felt it and when you are a player, you know when it is something serious,” Amorim said.

“We are here to help him in this difficult moment like he has helped us,” he added.

Martinez had previously endured a lengthy absence in his first season with United in 2022, spending almost a full year on the sidelines due to a metatarsal injury. This has only heightened the anxiety surrounding the current injury, with concerns that the centre-back might face a similarly lengthy period of recovery.

The manager now faces the task of finding a suitable replacement for the Argentine in the starting lineup, with Mathijs De Ligt coming on as his substitute against Palace. De Ligt will now be one of the prime candidates to partner with Harry Maguire in central defense, alongside Lenny Yoro, should Martinez be sidelined for an extended period, or in the worst-case scenario, the remainder of the season.

The potential loss of Martinez, coupled with United’s current form, leaves Amorim with plenty to think about as he looks to steady the ship amid mounting concerns for both the defense and the overall team performance.