Gary Neville believes Manchester United’s players may have been directing angry comments at one another behind the scenes following Lisandro Martinez’s public criticism of the club’s hierarchy.
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast after United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, the former club captain suggested that Amad Diallo’s social media post following the defeat to Atletico Madrid could offer an indication of tensions within the squad.
Diallo posted a picture of himself at Old Trafford with the caption, “f***ing disgrace, I have no words”, shortly after United’s Champions League loss last Tuesday. It remains unclear whether the message was aimed at the team’s performance or Martinez’s comments about the club’s leadership.
Neville suggested that the post could have been directed at a fellow player, with both Diallo and Martinez appearing willing to speak out.
Martinez’s Criticism of United’s Leadership
Martinez sparked controversy after United’s 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid when he questioned the club’s ambition and criticised the level of investment during the latest transfer window.
The Argentine singled out sporting director Jason Wilcox while arguing that United needed additional quality to compete for trophies.
He also expressed doubts about whether manager Michael Carrick had received sufficient backing, saying the club needed to examine issues beyond the coach and players.
“I expect more 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director,” Martinez said, adding that he expected greater investment and more players capable of helping United compete.
Neville Suggests Players Were Confronting Each Other
Discussing Diallo’s post, Neville questioned whether the winger’s use of the phrase “f***ing disgrace” was intended as a criticism of a team-mate.
“If you think about Amad Diallo’s Snapchat, was it a ‘you’re an effing disgrace?’ Well, that’s at his team-mate,” Neville said.
He added that both players appeared prepared to express their frustrations, describing Martinez as having “gone rogue” and suggesting Diallo had also made his feelings known.
Neville said the situation could create an opportunity for Carrick if the confrontation prompted players to respond to the team’s problems.
He suggested Martinez’s comments might ultimately serve as a wake-up call for the squad, even describing the defender’s outburst as potentially the best motivational speech he had delivered for United.
Carrick Says Squad Has Moved On From Incident
Both Martinez and Diallo featured in United’s starting line-up for Sunday’s meeting with Leeds after Carrick cleared the Argentine to play following his comments about the club’s hierarchy.
Before the match, Carrick said the dressing room had moved on from the controversy and described the team’s latest training session as “fantastic”.
However, United could not secure a victory at Elland Road, drawing 1-1 and extending their winless run to six matches.
The result came ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League fixture against Como, managed by former Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
Wayne Rooney Questions Martinez’s Public Criticism
Former United captain Wayne Rooney also expressed concern about Martinez’s remarks, arguing that the defender’s comments risked undermining his team-mates.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, Rooney said the Argentine’s assessment of the squad could be interpreted as suggesting that the players were not good enough.
“I think it’s a bit disrespectful to his team-mates as well because he’s disrespecting his team-mates, he’s saying they’re not good enough,” Rooney said.
He added that Bruno Fernandes, United’s captain, was perhaps the only player who could publicly make such comments, although he believed concerns of that nature should still be addressed privately.
Rooney said players could raise issues with the manager, who could then discuss them with the club’s board, rather than airing their frustrations publicly.
He warned that Martinez’s interview would not help United’s situation at a time when the club was already struggling.
