Lisandro Martinez

Ten Hag rules Martinez out of final

Wednesday 03 May 2023 22:30

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has definitively ruled Lisandro Martinez out of next month’s Emirates FA Cup final.

Martinez recently underwent successful surgery to repair the metatarsal that he fractured during the first leg of our Europa League quarter-final defeat to Sevilla.

Argentina’s World Cup winner, who has appeared 45 times for United during his debut season and been a revelation at Old Trafford, is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

In the second part of his press conference ahead of our trip to Brighton, Erik signalled that this remains the aim and Licha has “completely no chance” of facing Manchester City at Wembley.

The final - which is set to be one of the most hotly anticipated in the competition's long history - takes place later in the year than usual, on Saturday 3 June, with the season having to be lengthened due to last winter's World Cup.

Press conference part two: Brighton v United Video

Press conference part two: Brighton v United

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Martinez’s regular defensive partner Raphael Varane also suffered a serious injury during the same meeting with Sevilla, but after initially experiencing a setback with his recovery he is now expected to return during May.

Ten Hag confirmed on Thursday that, although Varane would remain sidelined for the visits to Brighton and West Ham, he is edging closer to featuring again.

“The prognosis, I think Rapha is closer [to returning] than Scott McTominay in this moment,” added Ten Hag. “But still they are, for the coming two games, they are not available.”

Victor Lindelof and Luke Shaw have performed well as a defensive partnership in recent games, with both players nominated for our April Player of the Month award.

Harry Maguire is also an option for Ten Hag at centre-back.

United’s club captain returned from injury during the closing stages of our 1-0 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.

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