Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed admiration for Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez, despite Martinez not featuring in Sunday’s derby clash between the two teams.
Although Manchester United ultimately suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City, Guardiola offered praise for Martinez during a post-match interview with Sky Sports. He acknowledged the absence of both Rasmus Hojlund and Lisandro Martinez from United’s lineup, highlighting the challenges faced by Erik ten Hag due to their injuries.
Guardiola described Martinez as a “top-class player” and expressed sympathy for United’s predicament, recognizing the difficulty of coping without key players, especially those in top form.
“A striker in the best moment and scoring goals, today he’s injured. A central defender, an Argentina guy, Lisandro is a top-class player and the same, he’s injured, so when this happens, it’s not easy,” said Guardiola.
Martinez, who typically provides balance on the left side of Ten Hag’s defensive line, has been sidelined with medial collateral ligament damage sustained during a match against West Ham United earlier in the month. United had initially estimated an eight-week recovery period for Martinez, and he was seen at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, supporting his teammates as he works towards a return to action.
Although Martinez’s early return would undoubtedly be a boost for United, caution is necessary to avoid rushing him back prematurely, given his history of injury problems.