Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez conducted an extraordinary interview after his side’s 2-0 Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid, as he was highly critical of the club’s board and the lack of investment in quality players.
His comments are certain to be the primary talking point after another disappointing night for United, with Wayne Rooney suggesting the Argentine centre-back “had an agenda” and “went too far” with his swipes at the club’s hierarchy.
“Really poor. Really poor. I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it is a reflection of the mirror of how our club is at the moment,” said World Cup winner Martinez.
“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. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserve to win today.
“I expect more [investment]. 100pc. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, 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.”
Martinez was then asked what areas of the squad needed to be strengthened and he suggested the overall strength of the squad was not good enough.
“Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team,” he stated.
“It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here.”
When asked whether manager Carrick had been backed enough in the transfer market, he added: “I don’t think so. He does his best. Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams know how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season is a big problem.”
“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can’t say more.
“Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas.”
Rooney was quick to suggest Martinez had overstepped the mark with his comments, as he argued the player may have had a premeditated plan to speak out against the owners in a bid to earn a new contract or force a move away from United.
“I disagree with those comments,” declaed Rooney. “I thought that the performance was okay. I thought it was better, so there were some positive signs.
“It’s a difficult one because I always used to feel that I was outspoken as a player and you want to have your opinion. I think he’s maybe gone a bit too far, and that should have stayed internal.
“The fans want to hear the players speak, they want to hear the players care so you can clearly see that he cares and he wants the club to invest more money in more players, and to do that he’s probably one of the players who’ll be out the door if I’m being honest.
“His performances haven’t been good enough, but I think in some ways he’s right in terms of the club needing to invest more at the top end of the pitch and the defence, but I think it looks like it was a bit of an agenda and he wanted to say that because it doesn’t reflect the performance I thought the performance was better.
“For me, the manager or Bruno (Fernandes) are the only two people who can say things like that and I wonder whether it was premeditated. Why is he even doing an interview after this game? I wonder whether his agent wanted him to do it and to say what he said.
“He’s basically saying his team-mates are not good enough. Something like that can rip that dressing room apart.”
United manager Carrick was also asked about Martinez’s comments and he was reluctant to be drawn into a response.
“I haven’t seen it,” he stated. “After a game like this you come here to try and get something from the game and you are disappointed and can be emotional. I have not seen it so I don’t think it is the right time.
“We all care and show that in different ways but now is the time to be together and work through.”
Martinez’s interview will add to the confusion around United ahead of what may now be a crucial game for Carrick’s future against Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday.
The bombshell Martinez interview in full
Gabriel Clarke: Lisandro, a tough result. First of all, how do you sum up the performance?
Lisandro Martínez: Really poor. Really poor. I have to control myself a lot. But it’s a sometimes it’s a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment, you know? We did a fantastic season last season, and now we expect more from the top, from up, you know, to bring more players to compete, because many, many teams bring many players as well, and today also Atlético, they have an amazing team, and they deserved to win today.
GC: So this is not a Champions League quality squad?
LM: I expect more, honestly, I expect more.
GC: But what you’re saying is you expected more investment in the squad in the summer?
LM: Yeah, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director. We have to be honest, you know, and also as players we have to do more, but it’s also important when you make a strong squad to be ready to this kind of nights.
GC: In which areas? In defence, in attack, because obviously there was money invested in midfield?
LM: Ah, in general, in general. I think we last season we did everything, we created a base to build an amazing team. But this is something to be honest, and to prove something, you know? Yeah, it’s annoying, disappointing coming here and I’m not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here. It’s disappointing.
GC: The manager of course gets a lot of the criticism. Is the problem the manager wasn’t backed enough in the summer in terms of investment?
LM: I don’t think so, I don’t think so. He does his best. But every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams know how you play, the teams know every detail, you know, and if you don’t change, next season is a big problem.
GC: Often in this situation, it’s the manager who is the one that is removed. You can’t necessarily go after...
LM: Yeah, you start change and change and change in manager and... but what about other areas? I can’t say more.
GC: No, we appreciate you being so frank tonight. Of course, it’s two wins from nine.
LM: Because tonight it’s easy to say the coach, it’s easy to say players, but also we have to see others – other areas, yeah?
GC: Thank you very much.