Carrick says Martinez's United outburst has galvanised squad after showdown talks

Michael Carrick insists Lisandro Martinez’s explosive public criticism of Manchester United’s hierarchy has ultimately brought the squad closer together, after the head coach sat down with the Argentine defender, director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada for showdown talks on Thursday.

Martinez sparked a crisis earlier in the week when, speaking after United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, he said he “expected more” from Wilcox in terms of summer recruitment, accusing the club of a lack of ambition and suggesting Carrick had not been backed as the players had anticipated. The 28-year-old issued a statement on Wednesday before releasing a second on Thursday in which he apologised for the “time and place” of his remarks — though not for their substance.

Carrick was relaxed about the absence of a direct apology to Wilcox and declared the matter closed. “It’s done, really,” he said. “Moved on from that. It was one of those things. We all understood the situation and what it meant. Lisandro obviously made his statement, and he acknowledges that it was a mistake from him, and that was it. It’s really not drama for us as a group.”

Wayne Rooney had warned after Tuesday’s game that Martinez’s comments could “rip a dressing room apart”, but Carrick reported the opposite mood in training on Thursday. “Certain situations, it can galvanise the group, and it’s certainly galvanised the group as this week’s progressed,” he said. “The boys are, I have to say, in a really good place right now. You can see there’s a real sense and a feeling within the group that we want to do something about this situation, and we want to do something about it really quickly.”

Carrick confirmed Martinez is available for United’s Premier League trip to Elland Road on Sunday, suggesting the club consider the saga firmly behind them despite the public nature of the defender’s grievances.