Lisandro Martínez Blasts Manchester United Hierarchy After Atlético Madrid Defeat

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has publicly questioned the club’s summer transfer strategy, calling for greater investment and insisting the blame for the team’s struggles cannot fall solely on manager Michael Carrick.

Manchester United’s difficult start to the season has taken another turn after defender Lisandro Martínez delivered a remarkably direct assessment of the club’s leadership following their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid.

Speaking after Tuesday’s loss in Madrid, the Argentine international expressed frustration with United’s recruitment, questioning whether the club had done enough to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.

“I expect more, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director,” Martínez said, specifically pointing towards Jason Wilcox.

“Also, as players, we have to do more, but it is important when you make a strong squad to be ready for these types of nights.”

His comments have intensified scrutiny of a club already enduring a difficult period, with United now winless in five consecutive matches across all competitions.

While players and managers are often the first to face criticism when results deteriorate, Martínez believes United’s problems extend beyond performances on the pitch.

The defender argued that the club needed to strengthen more aggressively during the summer after securing Champions League football for the current campaign.

United added midfielders Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos to their squad, alongside goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but questions have remained over whether other areas received sufficient attention.

Martínez believes the recruitment drive did not go far enough.

“We had a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete, because many teams have brought in many players as well,” he explained.

The defender also suggested that repeatedly changing managers would not solve the club’s deeper problems.

“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can’t say more.”

The remarks represent a public challenge to United’s hierarchy, particularly Wilcox, and raise questions about the level of confidence within the playing squad.

United manager Michael Carrick has also come under pressure as the team's results have deteriorated. However, Martínez was reluctant to make him the central figure in the criticism.

Asked whether Carrick had received sufficient backing, the defender responded that he did not believe so, adding that the manager was doing his best.

Carrick, meanwhile, initially played down the significance of the comments, saying the emotions of the defeat may have influenced Martínez’s response.

“I think it’s a little bit on the emotions of the game,” Carrick said, explaining that he had not yet fully watched the interview.

He added that he needed to understand the situation better before commenting further.

The manager now faces the challenge of addressing the club’s results while navigating public criticism from one of his senior players.

Former United captain Wayne Rooney was among those to criticise the timing and manner of Martínez’s remarks.

Speaking after the match, Rooney acknowledged that the defender wanted the club to invest in more players, but argued that such concerns should have remained behind closed doors.

“I think he’s maybe gone a bit too far, and that should have stayed internal,” Rooney said.

Rooney also questioned Martínez’s own performances, suggesting that players needed to take responsibility rather than directing attention exclusively towards the club’s leadership.

His reaction highlights the difficult balance between players speaking honestly about their club’s problems and maintaining a united front during a challenging period.

The loss to Atlético Madrid was another setback for United, who conceded early through Pablo Barrios before Ademola Lookman sealed the result in the second half. Defender Leny Yoro was also sent off during the match.

Yet Martínez’s comments have shifted attention away from the result itself and towards the decisions being made away from the pitch.

His argument is clear: United cannot expect to compete with Europe's strongest sides without a squad capable of matching them, and changing managers alone will not address every weakness.

However, public criticism of recruitment also carries risks. It can create tension within the dressing room, particularly among players who arrived during the same transfer window being questioned.

United now face a crucial period, beginning with a Premier League trip to Leeds United on October 18, before returning to Champions League action against Como three days later.

Whether Martínez’s intervention sparks a response from the club’s leadership or creates another distraction remains to be seen.

For a club struggling for results, the defender has made one thing clear: he believes Manchester United’s problems go beyond the manager, and he wants the people running the club to answer for them.