Martinez issues scathing attack on Man Utd board - has he made things worse?
BBC Sport · C · trust 31/100
Manchester United reporter Published 13 October 2026, 22:32 BST Updated 1 hour ago Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has launched a blistering attack on the club's hierarchy for not strengthening the squad following qualification for the Champions League.
Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid means United have now gone five games without a win.
Their most recent victory was against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on 10 September. United's only other win in nine matches this season came against newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford, when they had to come from behind.
The Red Devils finished third in the Premier League last term to seal a Champions League return for the first time in three years.
They won 12 of Michael Carrick's 17 games in interim charge following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January, which was enough to earn the former United midfielder a permanent two-year contract as head coach .
"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," Martinez told Amazon Prime.
"Atletico have an amazing team and they deserved to win today.
"I expect more [investment]. 100%. 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.
"Tonight it is easy to [blame] the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas."
Martinez's view has been echoed by many external observers and has also been mentioned by some inside Old Trafford.
The failure to bring in striking support for Benjamin Sesko and competition at left-back for Luke Shaw have both been highlighted in a summer when United spent £155m on three midfielders to the exclusion of any other position.
Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was sitting next to United chief executive Omar Berrada in the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday.
They have sacked managers in the past two seasons after backing them the previous summer, with Erik ten Hag dismissed in October 2024, before Amorim was shown the exit door in January 2026.
"You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager," said Martinez. "What about other areas? I can't say more.
"Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team."
Martinez's comments echo similar ones made by his Argentina defensive partner Cristian Romero against the Tottenham board last season.
Ironically, Romero was in Atletico's side against United after his summer move to Spain.
Martinez, meanwhile, has one year left on his United contract and has yet to agree an extension.
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Former United players Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young were in Madrid for the game.
Discussing Martinez's comments on Amazon Prime, both said the defender had gone too far and the damage inside the dressing room could be significant.
"Something like that will rip that dressing room apart," said Rooney.
The former England and United captain recalled his own public criticism of the club in 2010 which drew a fierce response from boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
Rooney said it had been a mistake which he had apologised for.
"It is disrespectful to his team-mates," he said. "He is saying his team-mates aren't good enough.
"Bruno [Fernandes is] the only one with any right to say that. Behind closed doors, it happens - but that interview isn't going to help...
"[Martinez] has tried to speak on behalf of the players but done it the wrong way.
"It looks like a player trying to look after himself. It was very premeditated. It is sad because you need everyone to stick together, you need to be as one."
Tielemans - who United bought from Aston Villa for £35m in July - also spoke to the host broadcaster but opted not to respond to the question.
Commentating on the game, and speaking before Martinez, former England striker Alan Shearer said he felt Carrick had been let down.
Young feels Martinez should have kept his counsel.
"We know recruitment has to work and be better but players have to be better," he said. "They are the ones who have to produce.
"There's going to be no change now. That could create [issues] all week after what was a good performance."
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former England keeper Paul Robinson said he could understand Martinez's point.
"I question his timing because with the noise around Manchester United at the moment, positivity needs to come out of the dressing room," he said.
"But on the flip side, I actually quite like it - a player being honest.
"Manchester United fans don't need their players coming out saying 'we're doing OK, the squad's strong enough'.
"Everyone can see they didn't recruit well enough and they need more players and the squad's not strong enough."
What information do we collect from this quiz? Does Martinez have a fair point? Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Manchester United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe (left), with chief executive Omar Berrada (centre) and director of football Jason Wilcox
Although United were much improved on their tepid display against Tottenham at the weekend, conceding inside the first minute did not reflect well on Carrick.
And they have now gone five games without a win for the first time since 2024-25, when it happened under both Ten Hag and Amorim.
Carrick remains under intense pressure, although Martinez's words will bring renewed focus on Wilcox.
The former Southampton executive's appointment as football director is starting to be questioned, as are decisions taken by Ratcliffe and Berrada since the Glazer family stepped back despite remaining as majority shareholders.
In addition to sacking Ten Hag and Amorim, they also dismissed highly respected Dan Ashworth in December 2024 just five months after his appointment as sporting director.
Ratcliffe…
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