Martinez attacks Man Utd hierarchy after Atletico loss

Lisandro Martinez launched a scathing public attack on Manchester United's hierarchy after Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid in Madrid. The Argentina defender criticised the club's summer transfer business and singled out technical director Jason Wilcox, stating the club must invest more to compete at the highest level.

Martinez also defended manager Michael Carrick, arguing that constantly changing managers masks deeper structural problems. "You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas?" he told Amazon Prime, gesturing toward the directors' box.

“You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas?”

The centre-back received a red card in the 74th minute, effectively ending United's hopes of a comeback before Ademola Lookman scored Atletico's second goal. The loss marked United's fourth defeat of the season and intensified pressure on Carrick.

Former United captain Wayne Rooney acknowledged some validity in Martinez's complaints about defensive recruitment but said the defender had "gone a bit too far" by airing grievances publicly. Rooney also noted the irony that Martinez himself might be sold to fund future investment.

Club insiders suggest Martinez may face internal discipline for the coordinated media offensive, which included similar remarks to CBS and in Spanish-language outlets. Amad Diallo's social media activity hinted at shared frustration within the dressing room.