Erik ten Hag fears Lisandro Martinez’s injury ‘doesn’t look great’ after he pulled up towards the end of Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Sevilla, though he has not injured his Achilles area.
The Red Devils appeared to be cruising to victory in their Europa League quarter-final first-leg tie, with Marcel Sabitzer netting twice in the first half at Old Trafford on Thursday night, but two late own goals for Sevilla saw the Spanish side pull off an unlikely comeback.
To make matters worse, United were forced to finish the match with just 10 men after Martinez was forced off late on, with Ten Hag having used up all of his substitutes by that point.
Shortly after Sevilla’s first goal, the Argentine centre-back worryingly pulled up while entirely unopposed and appeared to feel something go in the back of his heel.
Martinez looked close to tears as he lay on the floor and was consoled by players from both teams before Sevilla duo Marcos Acuna and Gonzalo Montiel – who won the World Cup alongside Martinez – lifted him up and carried him off the pitch.
The summer signing from Ajax had his head in his hands when he made it to the sidelines and was then helped down the tunnel on a stretcher.
Ten Hag fears the injury could be a serious one – though played down the likelihood of it being an Achilles problem, which could mean as much as nine months out of action – while Raphael Varane was also struggling with a persistent problem.
Asked if he spoke to the pair after their injuries, Ten Hag told BT Sport: ‘Yes we have seen with Licha Martinez drops out after a moment where there was no opponent involved.
‘So it doesn’t look that great, but we have to wait. I can’t say in this moment.
‘The same with Rapha [Varane], I didn’t speak with him after the game but it is an injury he’s complained about over the last couple of weeks so we have to see how it is now.’
In his press conference, Ten Hag added: ‘I cannot tell what it is [Martinez’s injury] but it is not the Achilles. No, that is not the area.’
United legend Paul Scholes fears Martinez’s injury could result in a long spell on the sidelines, saying: ‘It’s difficult for us to assume but it does look like he’s done his Achilles, which is a bad one.
‘I remember actually playing a game with Nicky Butt, he did something very similar and he said to me, “Who kicked me?” because he felt like somebody went through him.
‘I’m sure Martinez is feeling that. I’ve never done the injury myself, but when there’s no-one near you like that and something at the back of your ankle or heel goes, then you have to suspect it’s an Achilles and it doesn’t look great.’
He added: ‘He will be a huge miss. He’s shown real character and leadership skills, brought a strength and solidness to that back four – along with Raphael Varane as well. I think it probably makes it a 50/50 game next week now.’
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