Manchester United could be without two key centre-halves as Lisandro Martinez and Harry Maguire could be suspended ahead of this weekend’s trip to Chelsea.
Lisandro Martinez shown a red card for pulling his hair against Leeds (Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United face the prospect of being without their first-choice centre-half pairing this week after Lisandro Martinez received a red card and awaits the FA’s ruling on the suspension of Harry Maguire.
The Red Devils face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this weekend as the Blues aim to improve their Champions League chances. United’s place in the top five looked relatively secure, but manager Michael Carrick will be looking for an immediate response to the shock defeat to Leeds as he looks to build on his mid-season resurgence.
Martinez was sent off due to VAR intervention, reducing United to 10 men. The Argentine was sacked for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s hair, a decision that surprised many.
Maguire had been suspended and was already missing. The Englishman was charged with “inappropriate conduct” after he was sent off at Bournemouth for allegedly using abusive and insulting language towards a fourth official.
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The FA are still keeping an eye on that and could potentially extend Maguire’s suspension further given his offenses. If that were to happen, United would be stretched to the limit of their resources as they head to west London.
In that case, Carrick will likely face Lenny Yolo, who started in Monday night’s loss, and youngster Aiden Haven, who has started eight games in the league this season. United’s manager was furious that Martinez was given a red card against Leeds and is likely to appeal.
He told Sky Sports: “It wasn’t a tug, it wasn’t a pull, it wasn’t aggressive. He just touched it and got sent off. The worst part is he got sent off to reverse it as a clear mistake. It’s shocking.”
Harry Maguire was sent off against Bournemouth and subsequently charged (Image: Warren Little, Getty Images)
“That’s why he’s off balance. He half touches the back of his hair, pulls out his bob, and it’s like this. I don’t even know how it looks. That’s two games in a row where the decision went against us, and that game was one of the worst I’ve ever seen.”
United have 55 points, level with fourth-placed Aston Villa who sit below them on goal difference. Liverpool are fifth and Chelsea sixth, but a win for the Blues on Saturday night could see a scenario in which third and sixth are tied with a four-point difference with five games remaining.
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