- Lisandro Martínez publicly criticised Manchester United's leadership after a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid on Tuesday
- The Argentine defender singled out technical director Jason Wilcox over recruitment, saying he expected more from the club's top brass
- Wayne Rooney hit back at Martínez, calling his public outburst disrespectful to his own teammates
Lisandro Martínez did not hold back after Manchester United's chastening 2-0 loss to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 13, directing sharp criticism at the people running the club rather than just those playing for it.
Source: Getty Images
The Argentine centre-back turned his frustration upward after a night that summed up United's struggles, saying the defeat was "really poor" and that it reflected the state of the club as a whole.
"I have to control myself a lot but sometimes it is a reflection in the mirror of how is our club at the moment," he said.
What did Martinez say about Manchester United's heirachy?
Most strikingly, Martínez called out technical director Jason Wilcox by name, questioning whether the club had done enough to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level.
"I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest. And also, as players, we have to do more, but it's just important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night," he said.
The defender pointed to the gap that has opened up between United and their rivals during the transfer window.
"We did 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 added.
Martínez also pushed back against what he sees as a tired pattern at the club, where the manager tends to become the sole target whenever results go wrong.
"Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas... You start changing, changing, changing manager. But what about other areas? I can't say more," he said.
How did Manchester United lose to Atlético?
The match itself was a disaster from the first whistle. Pablo Barrios put Atlético ahead after just 53 seconds, leaving United rattled before they had barely touched the ball.
With the game still delicately poised, Leny Yoro received a straight red card in the 74th minute, effectively ending any hope of a comeback. Ademola Lookman then finished the job five minutes later to make it 2-0.
The result stretched manager Michael Carrick's winless run to five matches across all competitions, intensifying speculation about his future at the club.
Former United captain Wayne Rooney was unimpressed by Martínez's decision to speak so candidly in public, describing the comments as "disrespectful" to his teammates.
The criticism from a club legend added another layer of controversy to an already turbulent evening for United.
Watch the explosive interview below:
Why was Manchester United denied a penalty against Fulham?
TUKO.co.ke also highlighted facts about why Manchester United were denied a late penalty after Calvin Bassey handled the ball in the box during their draw with Fulham.
The Premier League match centre later released the VAR conversation explaining the decision.
Referee Peter Bankes acknowledged the contact but ruled that Bassey’s arm was close to his body and unlikely to have changed the ball’s path.
The explanation followed an incident that left United supporters questioning why their team did not get a chance to win the match from the spot.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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