Manchester United is deeply missing Lisandro Martinez.

Lisandro Martinez's absence due to a calf injury has significantly affected Manchester United's tactical execution, from defense to attack.

1. In the away match at Newcastle, manager Carrick had to continue using the center-back pairing of Harry Maguire and Yoro as Martinez was not yet recovered. This was the second consecutive game this duo partnered in the heart of defense, but they could not provide the necessary solidity.

One of Manchester United's clear weaknesses in this match was the excessively slow ball circulation speed. Maguire and Yoro both have the ability to carry the ball forward, but they cannot replace Martinez's role in organizing the play.

The Argentine defender is renowned for his ability to pass through the opponent's defensive structure. According to data from Gradient Sports, Martinez ranks third in the Premier League for line-breaking passes, averaging 7.73 per game. Without him, Manchester United lacks the direct passes that help the team escape pressing and approach the opponent's goal faster.

This explains why Carrick appeared impatient on the sidelines multiple times during the second half against Newcastle, constantly urging his players to increase the passing speed. However, without a center-back capable of initiating attacks like Martinez, Manchester United's build-up system becomes sluggish and predictable.

2. In the context of Martinez's injury, Yoro has been given more frequent playing opportunities. However, the young French center-back has yet to demonstrate consistency.

Early in the match against Newcastle, Yoro made a lapse in concentration, letting the ball pass thinking it would go out of play, causing it to rebound off the post and nearly resulting in a goal for Manchester United.

Nevertheless, he played the full 90 minutes and made a total of 6 defensive interventions. The 20-year-old defender had 55 touches, made 5 passes into the final third, along with 5 clearances and 2 ball recoveries.

These statistics show Yoro still made some contribution, but his overall performance did not meet the expectations for a starting center-back in the Premier League.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Yoro's biggest issue lies in his physicality. The young defender is still adapting to the English football environment.

Ferdinand noted that Yoro sometimes tries to engage in too many physical contests despite lacking the physical advantage.

3. Yoro's inconsistent form further exacerbates the concerning personnel situation in Manchester United's defense. Besides Martinez, center-back Matthijs de Ligt is also sidelined long-term due to a back injury.

This leaves Carrick with almost only Maguire and Yoro as reliable options for the center-back position. Backup options like Ayden Heaven or young talent Godwill Kukonki are still very inexperienced.

If either of the main center-backs encounters issues, Manchester United's defense could face a personnel crisis. Therefore, the coaching staff is being particularly cautious with Martinez's recovery process.

Initially, the Argentine defender was predicted to miss only a few days after suffering the calf injury during training. However, the recovery has taken longer than expected. The club does not want to repeat the mistake made with De Ligt, who was initially expected to return early but ultimately had to miss several months.

In Carrick's system, Martinez is not merely a conventional center-back. He is also a player capable of escaping pressing, initiating attacks, and organizing play from deep.

According to Amad Diallo's comments, Martinez always knows precisely the moment to deliver decisive passes for his teammates to sprint forward.

His ability to read the game and pass accurately makes Martinez a rare type of defender in modern football—a defender with ball-playing skills akin to a creative midfielder.

Therefore, his absence has left a significant gap in how Manchester United builds play from the back.

The defeat at Newcastle revealed a clear reality: When Martinez is absent, the team's defensive system and ball progression immediately encounter problems. And that is why the Old Trafford side is deeply missing the Argentine defender.