Key Takeaways:
- Lisandro Martinez delivered strong criticism of Manchester United’s board after their 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid
- Manchester United have recorded only two wins in nine matches this season and remain on a five-game winless streak since their victory over Sabah FK on 10 September
- Head coach Michael Carrick said he had not seen Martinez’s interview
Martinez Calls Out Club Leadership After Atletico Madrid Defeat
Manchester United’s 2-0 loss away to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening marked their fifth consecutive match without a win. Defender Lisandro Martinez used the post-match platform to deliver an uncompromising assessment of United’s upper management, voicing his dissatisfaction with the club’s lack of activity in strengthening the squad following last season’s Champions League qualification.
Martinez’s outspoken comments came after a match that extended United’s disappointing run, with their last victory dating back to 10 September against Azerbaijani title holders Sabah FK. The team’s only other win this campaign came against Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, where they were forced to come from behind.
The Argentine international expressed his belief that the club failed to sufficiently invest in reinforcements to match the ambitions set by last year’s third-place Premier League finish, which secured Champions League football for the first time in three years. Despite significant expenditure of £155m on three midfielders over the summer, United did not address attacking support or add competition at left-back, key areas highlighted as weaknesses.
😡 Lisandro Martínez has fired shots at the Manchester United board and their lack of investment in the summer:
🗣️ Martínez: "I have to control myself a lot. Sometimes it’s a reflection in the mirror of our club at this moment.
I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest. I expected more investment in the summer.
We keep changing managers, but what about other areas? It’s easy to say the coach, the players, but also we have to see others, huh? I can’t say more.
If you don’t change, next season it’s a big problem."
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Footballtweet) October 13, 2026
Quotes and Reaction: Dressing Room Tensions and Pundit Opinions
Martinez’s remarks were made during an interview with Amazon Prime Video, in which he said: “We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well,” and further pointed to the need for stronger squad depth and questioned the contributions of technical director Jason Wilcox.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and chief executive Omar Berrada were in attendance at the Metropolitano Stadium during the defeat. Notably, Martinez’s comments have been echoed by several figures both inside and outside Old Trafford.
Reaction from former Manchester United players was swift and divided. Wayne Rooney argued, “Something like that will rip that dressing room apart,” referencing his own experience with public criticism of the club in 2010. Rooney labelled Martinez’s approach as “disrespectful to his team-mates,” suggesting such criticism should remain private. Ashley Young, meanwhile, stressed that players must take responsibility for performances and warned of the disruptive potential of Martinez’s words.
Under Michael Carrick’s now permanent tenure, United have struggled to deliver consistent results despite previous success, and the board’s decisions continue to invite scrutiny from both supporters and analysts.
Looking Ahead: Manager and Club’s Response
In the aftermath of the defeat and subsequent media attention, head coach Michael Carrick maintained focus on collective goals and downplayed suggestions of significant disunity, stating: “I haven’t seen the interview,” and referencing the “emotions of the game.” Carrick indicated that he would look into the matter further before taking any action and reaffirmed his belief in the team’s togetherness and commitment amid mounting pressure and scrutiny at all levels of the club.
