Manchester United's quest for Champions League qualification has hit a snag with the recent injury setbacks to Lisandro Martínez and Victor Lindelöf. Martínez, who had just returned from a two-month knee injury layoff, suffered a calf injury during training following his comeback in the 1-1 draw against Brentford. On the other hand, Lindelöf had to be substituted in the second half of the game against Gtech Community Stadium due to a hamstring issue.
Both players are expected to be sidelined for at least a month, although there is optimism within the club that they could make a return before the season concludes. With crucial fixtures against Chelsea and Liverpool looming, their absence poses a challenge for manager Erik ten Hag, especially given the ongoing injury concerns in the defensive line.
In addition to Martínez and Lindelöf, Luke Shaw remains unavailable, and Raphaël Varane had to be withdrawn at halftime against Brentford due to a knock sustained in a challenge. Furthermore, Jonny Evans has missed the last two matches due to injury, further depleting United's defensive options.
Sitting sixth in the Premier League standings, Manchester United are in dire need of points to close the gap on Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the race for a top-four finish. Securing a spot in the Champions League next season is the primary objective, with the possibility of a fifth-place finish also potentially securing European qualification, depending on UEFA's allocation of performance spots for the 2024-25 campaign.
