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Lisandro Martinez was pictured receiving therapy from the Manchester United medical workers after he was substituted on the finish of pulsating 4-3 win at Molineux final night time.
Two late targets from Wolverhampton Wanderers – within the eighty fifth and ninety fifth minute – appeared to claw again a draw from a sport Erik ten Hag’s aspect had been main 3-1 with 5 minutes to go. A sensational solo purpose by Kobbie Mainoo within the 97th minute gifted United again all three factors, nevertheless.
It constituted one of the games of the season – the purest instance of the ‘advert for the Premier League’ adage commentators like to throw out. But, if Ten Hag’s group had been capable of convert the plethora of probabilities they created within the first sixty minutes of the match, it will have been a blow out.
United have been wonderful within the first-half. Two early targets – from Marcus Rashford and Rasmus Hojlund – encapsulated a quick begin which just about overwhelmed Wolves such was the frequency with which United have been carving by their defence. The opposition have been barely given a sniff within the different route both.
Offensively and defensively, United have been dominant.
On the coronary heart of this show was Martinez, making his first Premier League begin since mid-September when he was pressured off the sector towards Brighton. It transpired the Argentine had sustained the identical metatarsal damage which had dominated him out of the run-in final season. He was required to undergo another surgery, proceeded by almost 4 months of rehabilitation.
In Martinez’s absence, his group have struggled; which is why his dominant show final night time was such a lift to United’s fortunes for the rest of the season.
The 26-year-old was wonderful defensively. He was sturdy within the problem and supplied fixed cowl to his group mates. One instance, particularly, stood out.
Andre Onana rushed out chaotically into no-man’s land to attempt to declare a free-kick, getting no the place close to the ball within the course of. A Wolves participant bought a head to the ball and it gave the impression to be destined to roll into the goalkeeper’s vacated internet. However, having anticipated this precise situation, Martinez dropped deeper, behind his errant goalkeeper, and carried out an acrobatic manoeuvre to clear the ball off the road.
It was actually world-class defending – the kind sorely missing in Ten Hag’s group this season.
Offensively, Martinez was equally dominant.
United have been far more succesful and assured in possession towards Wolves. The transitional fashion Ten Hag has been searching for to implement appeared to click on within the first half, courtesy of a lot better distribution from deep.
The Argentine defender was on the coronary heart of this, always dispatching the ball ahead with objective and energy. It’s a mirrored image of the evolution within the fashionable sport {that a} returning centre-back can have such a major affect on a group’s attacking prowess.
But, as has develop into customary this yr, United did their best possible to grab a disappointing outcome from the jaws of victory, with the assistance of the standard dose of refereeing incompetency.
Wolves have been gifted a dreadful penalty after Casemiro gently caressed Pedro Neto along with his leg. A VAR overview was performed which simply additional demonstrated what a poor determination the referee had made. However the VAR group validated the on-field determination, and Wolves made the sport 2-1.
A headed purpose from Scott McTominay gave United one other two-goal lead, earlier than Ten Hag watched his aspect implode in acquainted style from the eighty fifth minute onwards. If not for the genius of Mainoo, the Dutchman would have been dealing with acute strain over his long-term future this morning, regardless of his aspect producing a superb show for the primary hour of the sport.
Within the midst of this last-minute chaos, Martinez was substituted, changed by Harry Maguire as the sport drew to an in depth. Eagle-eyed followers have been then despatched right into a tail spin after recognizing the 26-year-old with bandaging and ice on his foot on the aspect line, sparking fears of a relapse of the identical damage which ravaged Martinez’s 2023.
Nah I’m completed pic.twitter.com/fvPqsV44pP
— Frank🧠🇳🇱 (fan) (@TenHagEra) February 1, 2024
To have misplaced the Argentine on his first begin after such an extended absence would have been heart-breaking, particularly when he had performed so properly and distilled a a lot better sense of confidence all through the group. Fortunately, these hysterical posts on social media seem to have jumped the gun.
Martinez is pictured receiving therapy to his left foot. His persistent metatarsal damage was on his proper.
It’s additionally frequent apply for gamers, notably ones simply getting back from damage, to obtain ice therapy instantly after a sport. Danny Webber, a former academy participant at Previous Trafford, instructed Matchday Review: “You hope it’s a precaution. Whenever you’ve had dangerous accidents over time, generally you just do ice it as a precaution.”
Moreover, Martinez was seen strolling round after the ultimate whistle, and no stories instructed he left Molineux in a protecting boot, as one may count on for a extra critical damage.
As such, we at The Peoples Particular person consider this was merely only a minor difficulty which required an ice pack, and isn’t indicative of an precise damage. Erik ten Hag instructed the identical in his pre-West Ham press conference this lunchtime. Martinez is anticipated to be match and out there for Sunday’s sport towards West Ham at Previous Trafford, which can give his supervisor, group mates and followers on social media an enormous sigh of aid.
