Manchester United’s defensive line has been hit by a double injury blow ahead of a crucial period in their season. In the Europa League quarter-final first leg match against Sevilla on Thursday, Lisandro Martinez suffered a season-ending fractured metatarsal bone in his foot and was taken off the pitch on a stretcher. Raphael Varane, the team’s first-choice center-back, was already out of the game at half-time due to an injury, and is now expected to be out for a few weeks.
The injuries to both players come at a critical time for United, who are set to face rivals Leeds United, AS Roma, and Liverpool in the coming weeks. The absence of Varane and Martinez will put additional pressure on United’s defense, especially since they have already conceded a number of goals in recent games.
The club has confirmed that Martinez is expected to make a full recovery in time for the start of next season, but Varane’s absence will be a major concern for the manager as he tries to steer United towards a top-four finish in the Premier League and Europa League glory.
