Manchester United’s Lisandro Martinez launched an extraordinary attack on the club’s hierarchy following the 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid.
In a surprising post-match interview, the Argentine criticized the lack of summer investment in the squad.
The defender said he had expected more from “the top”, singling out technical director Jason Wilcox in the latest transfer window in which they failed to improve their options at left-back and up front.
Man Utd spent £155m on just four big summer signings after finishing third in the Premier League last season, which earned them a return to the Champions League for the first time in three years.
“I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it’s a reflection of how our club is at the moment,” Martinez said. Amazon Prime.
We had a fantastic season last season, and now we expect more from the top, from the top, to bring more players to compete because many teams have also brought many players.”
Asked if he had expected more investment in the squad in the summer, Martinez said: “Yes, 100 per cent.
“I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest. And also, as a player, we have to do more.
It’s also important to build a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”
Tuesday’s defeat in Madrid extended Man Utd’s winless run to five games, piling pressure on manager Michael Carrick.
“He does his best,” he said of Carrick. “But every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season.
“Teams know how you play, they know every detail. If you don’t change, next season is a big problem.”
Asked about Carrick’s future, Martinez replied: “You start changing, changing, changing managers. But what about (rolls eyes up) in other areas?”
Martinez looked up and then shrugged, saying, “I can’t say more,” before deciding to add one final dig.
“Because even tonight it’s easy to say the coach, it’s easy to say the players, but we have to see other fields as well”, he said, pointing up and shaking his head.
Carrick and Tielemans asked about Martinez’s comments
It was a surprising interview that Youri Tielemans, one of the summer’s three outfield signings, refused to comment on, while Martinez’s outburst dominated Carrick’s post-match press conference.
Asked if he agreed with Martinez’s view, he said: “Well, I haven’t seen the interview. I’ve kind of heard about it in other interviews that I’ve done.
“I think it’s a bit of the excitement of the game, coming here and the disappointment of not getting something from the game.
Man Utd have not won any of their last five games
“Right after a game is not the time for me to talk about that interview because I haven’t seen it, so I can’t really comment on it.
“But I think it’s important for us to move on quickly, really. I think there’s a big game on Sunday and it’s really important to move on and stay focused on that.
“There’s frustration within the group. I’m very disappointed in some things, and the boys are as much a group.”
Rooney strongly criticizes Martinez’s outburst
Manchester United’s all-time top goalscorer Wayne Rooney talking to him Amazon Prime:
“It’s difficult because I’ve always thought I’m open as a player and you want to have your opinion.
“I think he’s probably gone a bit too far. That’s for the manager, and that should remain internal.
“The fans want to hear the players talk; they want to hear the players care, so you can clearly see that he cares and he wants the team to invest more money and more players, and to do that he is probably one of the players who is out the door during his performances. His performances have not been good enough.
Martinez is in his fifth season at Man Utd
“But I think in a way he’s right about the club needing to invest more, up the pitch and defensively as well.
“But it seems to have been a bit of an agenda; he meant it because it doesn’t reflect the performance. I thought the performance was better.
“It’s a bit disrespectful to his teammates as well.
“Bruno (Fernandes) is the only one who has the right to come out and say something like that as captain. Even then it should be behind closed doors if there are problems, which happens.
“The players have talks with the manager, the manager has talks with the board, but this interview will not help the situation the club is in at the moment.
“It’s going to bring more noise around him; the players are not happy, they’re not calm, they don’t trust their team-mates. It’s not going to help at all.”
Sunday, October 18, 12:30 p.m
Departure at 14:00
Carra: It’s terrible from Martinez
Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher speaking to CBS Sports:
“It doesn’t do anybody any good at all, and they’re going to be the story now for days to come, that’s all.
“Now, as a supporter, every group of supporters don’t like suits or lads up top, so United fans will knock that and think it’s great. I think it’s awful that he’s come out and said that now. I do.
“And when he says ‘we had a fantastic season last season’, they didn’t. A manager was sacked last season. They finished third because they had no cup games. They weren’t in Europe. They were knocked out of the cup competitions too early.
“The reason they finished third is because Liverpool and Chelsea were also bad. Now we are seeing the real Manchester United this season.”
Analysis: Martinez unlikely to last long at Man Utd
Sky Sports’ Zinny Boswell:
Everyone has heard a Manchester United fan voicing the criticism made by Lisandro Martinez in Madrid. It’s another thing entirely to see a player do that.
Many of those fans will see Martinez’s comments as a necessary intervention to address an issue that dates back to INEOS’ involvement at Old Trafford, but it certainly hasn’t been helped by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s minority investment.
Others, like Wayne Rooney, will question the player’s motives. Martinez has entered the final year of his contract and cannot claim to have done enough to earn another. Perhaps he has been told as much. Players who speak publicly like this don’t tend to last long.
Cristiano Ronaldo called out the Glazers in 2022 in his famous Piers Morgan interview and left United within a week. Martinez’s compatriot Cristian Romero criticized the Spurs hierarchy in January in an Instagram post and left in the summer.
Regardless of Martinez’s motivation, it’s hard to argue with his point. United set Carrick up for relegation by failing to sign a left-back or a striker in the summer. The midfield rebuild that took place over many months before the summer has not lived up to expectations either.
It’s hard to see what United’s plan is looking back on the last few years. United have had three managers in that period of time. Erik ten Hag, Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick. All with different approaches that bear little resemblance to one another.
Martinez’s comments will not help Carrick. But given the sense of hopelessness that has gripped the fan base, you can understand why some welcome his comments. Martinez is right to say that United’s issues extend far beyond the manager.
Your views on Martinez’s interview…
Steve: Martinez is 100 percent right. The board is an absolute disgrace; the biggest club in the world and yet they continue with the same defenders we’ve had for five years. Teams know our weaknesses; the board has once again let the manager down badly.
Jonesy: I disagree with Martinez. They had the money but spent it on players like Andrey Santos who can’t get into the Chelsea team – what makes that good enough for Utd? I saw professional players unable to execute simple passes, and lapses in defensive concentration, again. Not good enough!
Date D: You can change the manager all you want, but when the hierarchy stays the same, you get the same results. Well done, Martinez!
Ciara: For once, a Man Utd player has come out to call out the hierarchy. What a legend.
Dantoken: I stand with him. Nothing changes until changes are made at the top of the club.
clothing: I agree with Martinez, the team should be bigger and better quality. The main problems are with those who are high outside the field.
Man Utd’s next six games
Leeds (A) – Premier League – Sunday 18 October, live Sky Sports
Como (A) – Champions League – Wednesday 21 October
Bournemouth (H) – Premier League – Sunday 25 October, live Sky Sports
Chelsea (A) – Premier League – Saturday 31 October
Roma (H) – Champions League – Tuesday 3 November
Aston Villa (H) – Premier League – Sunday 8 November, live Sky Sports