Lisandro Martinez has criticised Manchester United’s leadership and director of football Jason Wilcox following the club’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid, arguing that the team’s summer recruitment did not go far enough to prepare the squad for major challenges.
The loss in Madrid marked Michael Carrick’s fourth defeat in nine games this season, adding to the pressure on the head coach as United continue to struggle for consistency.
Martinez acknowledged that the players must take responsibility for their performances but insisted that the club’s decision-makers should also face scrutiny over the level of investment in the squad.
Defender Says Carrick Needed More Support
Asked whether Carrick had received sufficient backing, Martinez suggested the club should look beyond the manager when assessing United’s problems.
“I don’t think so. He does his best. You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager,” Martinez said.
The Argentine defender argued that criticism should not fall exclusively on the coach and players, pointing to other areas of the club that he believes need improvement.
“I expect more, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director,” he added, making his frustration with the recruitment strategy clear.
United reportedly spent £163 million on new signings during the summer transfer window. Martinez believes further investment was needed to build a squad capable of competing against the strongest teams.
Martinez Expresses Frustration Over Squad Depth
The defender said United had established a foundation during the previous season but expected the club’s leadership to strengthen the team further.
He argued that rival sides had also brought in additional players, making squad depth increasingly important when competing at the highest level.
“We created the base to create an amazing team,” Martinez said, expressing disappointment at the team’s performance against Atletico Madrid.
He also admitted that the players needed to improve, but maintained that the club’s recruitment decisions had a significant role to play in preparing the squad for demanding matches.
Martinez’s comments placed the spotlight on Wilcox and the wider football leadership, raising questions about whether United’s summer business had adequately addressed the team’s needs.
Wayne Rooney Accuses Martinez of Disrespecting Teammates
Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney was critical of Martinez’s public comments, arguing that they risked undermining players who had joined the club during the summer.
Rooney specifically highlighted the potential reaction of midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, suggesting Martinez’s remarks could be interpreted as a slight against the new arrivals.
“If you’re Baleba or Tielemans, you’re going to want to speak to Lisandro as it’s disrespectful to them,” Rooney said.
The former United forward also argued that club-wide criticism of this nature should come from captain Bruno Fernandes rather than another player.
“Only Bruno can come out and say that,” Rooney added.
Rooney warned that Martinez’s intervention could create divisions within the dressing room at a time when the team needed to remain united.
“It looks like a player trying to look after himself. It’s sad because you need players to stick together or something like that can rip the dressing-room apart,” he said.
Tielemans Declines to Respond to Outburst
Tielemans was asked about Martinez’s remarks after the match but declined to comment on the defender’s criticism of the club’s transfer policy.
His response left questions about how the comments had been received by United’s summer signings unanswered, although Rooney’s reaction highlighted the potential for tension among teammates.
The incident has added another layer to the scrutiny surrounding United, with the team’s performances, recruitment decisions and internal relationships all becoming subjects of debate following the defeat in Spain.
Carrick Waits Before Deciding Whether to Act
Carrick was cautious when asked about Martinez’s post-match interview and whether the defender could face disciplinary action.
The United head coach said he wanted to understand the circumstances surrounding the comments before deciding how to respond.
“I think it’s a little bit the emotion of the game,” Carrick said. “I need to find out a bit more about it before I can say if and what is going to be done.”
Despite the controversy, Carrick maintained that he had no reason to doubt the unity of his squad, acknowledging the disappointment felt by the players after another defeat.
“As a group, I don’t doubt the togetherness. But the boys are hurting. They’re passionate, they want to do well, they’re definitely hurting,” he said.
Whether Martinez’s criticism leads to further discussions within the club remains to be seen. For United, the immediate challenge is to address their results while managing growing questions about the squad, the transfer strategy and the direction of the team.
