Lisandro Martinez’s two-minute, 55-second post-match interview after Manchester United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid has put the club’s hierarchy under renewed pressure.
Speaking as a senior player, the Argentina defender made clear that his frustration was aimed beyond the manager and team-mates. Director of football Jason Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada and others in positions of authority were all challenged by his comments.
“I have to control myself a lot,” Martinez said. Asked whether Michael Carrick had been properly backed during the summer, he replied: “I don’t think so.”
“He does his best. You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager.
“What about other areas? Tonight it is easy to say the coach and easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas, huh?”
Martinez then called for greater investment and more accountability from the club’s technical leadership.
“I expect more (investment) 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest,” he said.
“As players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.
“I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.
“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.”
Were Martinez’s complaints justified?
The squad’s weaknesses have been apparent since the end of last season. United wanted a left-back but did not sign one. With Luke Shaw unavailable against Atletico Madrid, Martinez had to guide Ayden Heaven, a centre-back by trade, through the match.
The midfield was also targeted for major surgery, with £155m spent on Carlos Baleba (£70m), Andrey Santos (£50m) and Youri Tielemans (£35m). All three have shown promise, although none has yet appeared to be an established elite player. Baleba, however, is considered to have that potential.
United also needed cover for Benjamin Sesko, who has since suffered an injury and could be out for a considerable period if surgery is approved. No replacement was brought in.
Wilcox has previously conducted internal interviews when results were positive and played down the importance of signing megastars.
“It’s not about putting the Harlem Globetrotters together,” he said in November 2025. “If I look at successful Man United teams, there were very functional players that would die for the badge and there were some mavericks.”
Those teams also had a clear identity, something United currently lack. Berrada outlined the transfer strategy earlier in the summer, but Martinez’s intervention has increased pressure on Wilcox to address the situation publicly.
A pattern of confrontation
Martinez has faced similar accusations of outspoken behaviour before. In 2022, when he was pushing to join Manchester United, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf alleged that he went “nose to nose” with then-Ajax technical director Gerry Hamstra and called him a “fing nobody”.
United sources have described Martinez as an intensely competitive character who does not hide his anger. His contract expires at the end of the current season, although the club have an option to extend it to June 2028. Martinez is seeking greater security, and the lack of progress over an extension may be contributing to his frustration.
How will United respond?
Wilcox could now be expected to give an interview, with one possible response being a joint appearance alongside Martinez. The club’s leadership has previously been criticised for remaining out of the spotlight.
Ruben Amorim called out Wilcox and recruitment chief Christopher Vivell after an away match at Leeds United last season, which proved to be his final act. A lack of response from the board could suggest that senior figures are willing to be publicly challenged by players.
Martinez’s remarks may also have unsettled members of the squad. Tielemans appeared unimpressed, while senior agents representing Premier League players contacted Daily Mail Sport to say the defender’s comments had created an awkward situation.
“It is annoying and disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result,” Martinez said, describing the performance as “very poor”.
Former United striker Wayne Rooney criticised the decision to speak so openly.
“If you’re Baleba or Tielemans, you’re going to want to speak to Lisandro as it’s disrespectful to them,” he said. “Only Bruno [Fernandes] can come out and say that.
“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.”
Can Martinez be left out?
Despite United being winless in five matches and facing Leeds United at Elland Road, Martinez is unlikely to be dropped because Shaw, Dorgu and Mazraoui are unavailable, Matthijs de Ligt has not played since last November, and Heaven remains inexperienced.
Carrick said: “I think it’s a little bit the emotion of the game.
“I need to find out a bit more about it before I can say if and what is going to be done.
“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.”
Many supporters agree with Martinez’s criticism of the club’s leadership. However, Rooney and fellow pundit Ashley Young also highlighted the potential damage caused by questioning the quality of summer recruits. The consequences of the interview could continue to affect Manchester United for weeks.
