What Erik ten Hag said on Lisandro Martinez injury

Manchester United’s Europa League quarter-final hopes have been dealt a blow with concerns over the injury sustained by defender Lisandro Martinez during their 2-2 draw against Sevilla on Thursday night.

The Argentine defender went down unchallenged in the 86th minute and was clutching the back of his ankle in agony. He had to be carried off the pitch, visibly emotional after suffering what looked like a serious injury.

After the match, United boss Erik ten Hag gave an update on Martinez’s condition, stating that the defender dropped out after a moment where there was no opponent and that the injury did not look great. He added that he cannot say what the diagnosis is but it is not Achilles related.

However, concerns continue to grow over the severity of Martinez’s injury, with some reports suggesting that he may have snapped his Achilles, which would rule him out for several months. Argentine media outlet TyC Sports journalist Gaston Edul tweeted that Martinez has an inflamed area, and it is presumed that the injury is in the tendon.

Martinez’s injury comes as a double blow for United, as fellow centre-back Raphael Varane was also injured and had to be substituted at half-time due to an injury complaint he has had over the last couple of weeks. Ten Hag said that they have to see how Varane is now and what his condition is.

United will be hoping that both defenders can recover in time for the remainder of the season, with a crucial Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest coming up on Sunday afternoon. Martinez’s absence could be particularly problematic, given his performances in the Europa League this season, where he has been a key player for United.