Erik ten Hag says Lisandro Martinez ‘has to accept’ Premier League returns soon: ‘He’s still celebrating in Argentina’
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ByEurosport
Published 24/12/2022 at 08:47 GMT
Erik ten Hag says that Lisandro Martinez is still celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win, and that he is unsure of the 24-year-old’s availability for the Red Devils’ December 27 match against Nottingham Forest. Martinez appeared five times at the World Cup as Lionel Scaloni’s team beat France in the World Cup final to collect a third World Cup crown after wins in 1978 and 1984.
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Lisandro Martinez is still celebrating Argentina’s World Cup win but he must accept that the Premier League is set to return, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has said.
Martinez played five times as Lionel Scaloni’s men added the World Cup to Copa America and Finalissima wins. The Manchester United player has since been celebrating his nation’s third World Cup win.
However, attentions are now turning to the resumption of the Premier League, with the first of the post-World Cup Premier League fixtures taking place on December 26.
United restart their campaign a day later against Nottingham Forest. However, asked whether the Argentine would be available for that fixture, Ten Hag said he did not know.
"I can't answer that question now. He is still celebrating in Argentina, in Buenos Aires,” said Ten Hag.
“He's in a touring car going around Buenos Aires. I can understand that, it's emotional, his emotions are very loaded.
“When you achieve this, when you get the World Cup into your country it's magnificent, it's the highest thing you can achieve. But also Lisandro Martínez has to accept that on the 27th [December] the Premier League will go on."
Crowds have flocked to receive and celebrate with the players after they won the World Cup. So much so, Martinez and the rest of his Argentina team had to abandon their open-top bus parade due to safety concerns on Tuesday.
The convoy left at 11:40am from the AFA stadium, and started their journey past attendees, some of whom had waited 24 hours for the occasion.
However, soon it became clear that it was impossible to make progress through the oceans of fans, and they decided instead to continue their journey by helicopter.
Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia explained the decision.
"They don't let us get to greet all the people who were at the Obelisk, the same security agencies that escorted us don't allow us to move forward," he wrote.
"A thousand apologies on behalf of all the champion players. A shame."
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