Ruben Amorim will not play Lisandro Martinez in midfield for Manchester United unless there is an emergency
Manchester United are going to play against Everton at home in their first Premier League game after the international break, and manager Ruben Amorim addressed the media in his pre-match press conference to respond to several questions.
The manager talked about their important defender Lisandro Martinez, who is returning from a long-term injury. The reporters questioned him on whether he would like to play the Argentine in midfield, to which Amorim stated that the 27-year-old has all the qualities to adapt, but he and the club are not looking to shift him to a more demanding role unless there is an emergency for the team.
Amorim even stressed that Lisandro is very close to full fitness, but also cautioned everyone that the World Cup winner might struggle in the initial few matches on his return.
“A smart, intelligent football player can play in a lot of positions, but it is not the right position for him. He needs more time to work there but he is not working there. But in an emergency, he can play, but I am not thinking about that. I feel Licha is becoming close to being able to play. We need to be careful, he is going to struggle in the first minutes, but he is clearly in a better position than he was two weeks ago.”
Quote via Manchester Evening News
Lisandro has suffered many injuries and setbacks since signing for United. He suffered a foot fracture in April 2023, followed by a medial collateral ligament injury in early 2024. The 29-year-old then suffered a cruciate ligament rupture against Crystal Palace, which forced him to stay on the sidelines for an extended period.
However, the United manager revealed that Lisandro has progressed with his recovery in the last couple of weeks, but the club wants to get him back into action slowly. They want to integrate him cautiously and build his match rhythm initially.
What will the Argentine provide on his return?
Ruben Amorim will not play Lisandro Martinez in midfield for Manchester United unless there is an emergency.
Lisandro Martinez during training ahead of his comeback.
When he is back on the field, Lisandro will help Manchester a lot in defence, ball progression and also bring his leadership traits. He will influence the game as a left-sided centre-back with his aggression and intelligence to adapt to the high-pressing tactics under Amorim. His 3-4-3 format needs his defenders to push up and be good ball-playing defenders.
Martinez’s exceptional passing range and ability to step into midfield will be key to starting moves from the back and keeping control of the ball. The 29-year-old’s tenacious and uncompromising style, which has earned him the nickname ‘The Butcher’, will give the whole defence a mental boost.
However, Amorim needs to manage Martinez’s return very carefully to prevent further setbacks after his long-term ACL injury. He has already indicated a patient approach, choosing not to push him straight back into the starting lineup despite the player’s eagerness.
Initially, Martinez should come on for shorter periods as a substitute to build match fitness and re-acclimate to the pace of play. Amorim must also consider the strong competition for spots, with Luke Shaw performing well in the left centre-back role during Martinez’s absence.
However, Shaw could shift to the left wing-back position, where he has also thrived, to accommodate Martinez in the back three. That would help form a strong defensive partnership while allowing Amorim to rotate players and keep them fresh for United’s busy schedule.