Lisandro Martínez slams Manchester United board: ‘I expect more investment’
The Argentine defender attacked the club hierarchy after a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid. He believes the squad was not strengthened enough in the summer and that the team reflects deep structural problems at Old Trafford. Head coach Michael Carrick played down the comments and linked them to the emotion of the night.
ByInfoBlaugrana
5 min read
Manchester United suffered another painful night in the Champions League and Lisandro Martínez did not hold back. After a 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid with goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman, the Argentine defender aimed his frustration directly at the club's leadership. He argued that the squad has not been reinforced enough to compete at the highest level and that the team is a mirror of deeper problems behind the scenes.
- United lost 2-0 at Atlético Madrid after goals from Barrios and Lookman.
- Lisandro Martínez blamed the hierarchy for a lack of summer signings.
- The Argentine backed manager Michael Carrick and urged the club to look at other areas.
- United are enduring their worst league start in 40 years.
- Carrick attributed the comments to the emotion of the game and refused to comment further.
Lisandro Martínez’s brutal self-criticism after the Madrid defeat
Speaking in the mixed zone, Martínez described the team's display as “really poor” and admitted he had to control his emotions. The World Cup winner believes the performance at the Metropolitano reflects exactly where Manchester United stand right now. “Tonight it is easy to point at the coach, easy to point at the players, but we also have to look at other areas,” he said while gesturing towards the club's offices.
It is annoying and disappointing to come here and not see my team trying to get an amazing result.
A direct message to Jason Wilcox and the United board
The centre-back went even further when discussing the club's planning. He demanded “100%” from technical director Jason Wilcox and stressed that last season the club created the foundation to build a winning project. In his view, however, the summer window fell short and a thin squad pays the price on demanding European nights.
“I expect more, 100%. I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest: as players we have to do more, but it is also important to build a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night,” he argued. The comments come after a window in which United made only three major signings: Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, plus back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow.
Pressure on the manager: has Michael Carrick been backed enough?
Asked whether the coach had received enough backing, Martínez was clear: “I don't think so. He does his best. Every season is different and you can't stay with what you did last season.” The Argentine explained that opponents study every detail of United's game and that, without changes or additions, the team becomes predictable.
He also defended the idea that the manager cannot always be the scapegoat: “You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about the other areas?” he insisted, adding that he could not say more.
Michael Carrick’s response and his view of the match
Michael Carrick faced the media without having seen the full interview. “I have half-heard about it. I think it is a little bit the emotions of the game talking. I need to find out more to decide what, if anything, should be done. I can't comment further,” he said. The manager avoided fuelling any internal controversy in the middle of a results crisis.
On the match itself, Carrick defended his players and claimed they had “four almost one-vs-ones”. He also admitted he did not understand Leny Yoro's red card on a night when United could have travelled back to Manchester with a different result. “It is easy to look and think there is something deeply wrong. I understand that, but the players have been great. There is willingness and they are disappointed not to come away with something. We think we could have and should have,” he concluded.
A historically bad start at Old Trafford
The defeat in Madrid adds to a worrying run. Manchester United have recorded their worst league start in four decades and have won just two official matches all season. The continuity of Carrick's project, after 12 wins in 17 games last term, is starting to raise doubts among fans who see the gap with Europe's elite widening once again.
FAQ: Lisandro Martínez’s criticism of Manchester United
Frequently asked questions
What did Lisandro Martínez say after Manchester United's defeat to Atlético Madrid?
He described the performance as “really poor” and said the match reflected the club's current situation. He urged people to look beyond the players and the coach, and demanded more investment from the board.
Who did Lisandro Martínez blame for the lack of signings?
He pointed at technical director Jason Wilcox and the club hierarchy. He stressed that only three major signings arrived in the summer and that the squad was not strong enough for Champions League football.
How did Michael Carrick respond to his player's comments?
The manager said he had not seen the full interview and put the words down to the emotion of the game. He added that he needed more information before deciding whether any action was required.