Lisandro Martinez Questions Manchester United's Leadership Soccer

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Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has criticised the club's hierarchy after the 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid, saying more investment was needed after qualification for the Champions League.

United have now gone five games without a win, with their most recent victory coming against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on 10 September. Their only other win in nine matches this season came against newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford, when they had to come from behind.

Martinez said United had done "a fantastic season last season" but added: "Now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well."

He added: "I expect more [investment]. 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night."

Martinez also said: "Tonight it is easy to [blame] the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas."

United finished third in the Premier League last season to secure a Champions League return for the first time in three years. They won 12 of Michael Carrick's 17 games in interim charge after Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January, enough for Carrick to be given a permanent two-year contract as head coach.

The defender's comments came after United spent £155m on three midfielders in the summer without strengthening other positions. The failure to bring in striking support for Benjamin Sesko and competition at left-back for Luke Shaw has also been highlighted.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chief executive Omar Berrada were both at the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday. United have sacked managers in the past two seasons after backing them the previous summer, with Erik ten Hag dismissed in October 2024 and Amorim leaving in January 2026.

Former United players Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young said Martinez had gone too far.

Rooney said: "Something like that will rip that dressing room apart." He added that it was "disrespectful to his team-mates" and said: "Bruno [Fernandes] is the only one with any right to say that."

Young said: "We know recruitment has to work and be better but players have to be better. They are the ones who have to produce."

 

[Bob the Ninja]

He's not wrong in what he said but he is wrong for airing it live in a interview. Should have been kept in the dressing room.

This will pile more pressure on Carrick too.

 

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Martinez has apologised for criticising Manchester United's hierarchy and said he held a "very positive" meeting with Michael Carrick and the club's leadership.

The centre-back met with senior club figures on Thursday following his public criticism of the club's investment.

 

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Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has said the club have moved on from Martinez's post-match comments and insisted the squad are not affected by the fallout.

Carrick said he was "telling the truth" when he described the dressing room as being in a strong place, despite criticism of Martinez from Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Gary Neville after the defender's remarks following the 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid.

"There's a lot of people who say a lot of things - ex-pros or not ex-pros - it doesn't necessarily mean they understand what is going on here," Carrick said at his pre-match media conference at United's Carrington training ground.

"Just because people talk on the outside doesn't mean that is the truth. I am telling you the truth. The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I have seen it for a while. That is it, plain and simple."

Martinez has apologised for the timing of his comments, which focused attention on director of football Jason Wilcox, but not for the words themselves. Carrick confirmed Martinez would be "part of the squad" for Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds at Elland Road.

Asked whether Wilcox should explain his actions to the media, Carrick said: "I don't think it's for me to say whether he should or not. I've got no problem sitting here, talking to you guys and leading the group, leading the team, leading the football club from this position. We're all in it together."

Carrick said Martinez's statement was enough for the team to move on.

"He's released his statement, he's realised he's made a mistake, and I think that's enough for all of us to move on with," he said. "We ask for passion, we ask for emotion, we ask for fire and we ask for players to care. There's a way of doing that, and that's already been acknowledged."

United go to Leeds on the back of a five-match winless run, and Carrick said the club needed results rather than focusing on his own position.

"I don't need results. We all need results," he said. "It's not about me. Manchester United is a lot bigger than any individual. It is bigger than me, bigger than any player, or anyone else who works at this football club."