Manchester United fans were left surprised when Lisandro Martínez failed to return for the second half of the Premier League clash against Leeds United, but Michael Carrick has now revealed the reason behind the unexpected substitution.
😳 IT WAS AN INJURY CONCERN, NOT PUNISHMENT!
Speaking after Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Leeds, Carrick explained that Martínez had experienced discomfort in his thigh during the first half.
“He felt his thigh a little bit,” Carrick revealed.
The Argentine defender was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui at the interval, with United choosing not to risk aggravating the problem.
🔴 WAS IT CONNECTED TO THE RECENT CONTROVERSY?
The timing of the substitution raised eyebrows because Martínez had recently attracted attention after publicly criticising Manchester United’s recruitment strategy following the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid.
However, Carrick had already indicated that the disagreement had been resolved, and the defender was selected to start against Leeds.
The manager’s post-match explanation points to a physical problem rather than disciplinary action related to Martínez’s earlier comments.
💔 UNITED PAID THE PRICE AFTER HALF-TIME!
Manchester United went into the break leading 1-0 thanks to Bryan Mbeumo’s first-half goal. However, after Martínez’s departure, Leeds found an equaliser through Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the 51st minute.
The match eventually finished 1-1, leaving United frustrated after missing another opportunity to secure a victory.
🚨 THE BIG CONCERN NOW!
Martínez’s fitness will be something to monitor ahead of Manchester United’s next fixture. The club will need to assess his thigh problem before determining whether he can return to action.
For now, Carrick has made his position clear: Martínez was substituted because he felt discomfort in his thigh, not because of the controversy surrounding his comments. 🔴⚽
