Martinez attacks United board, Amad Diallo rages: United implodes after Madrid

Manchester United collapsed 2-0 away at Atlético de Madrid on Tuesday evening in the second matchday of the Champions League, and the defeat immediately sparked an open crisis within the squad managed by Michael Carrick.

It was Lisandro Martinez who ignited the powder keg first, in his post-match press conference. Without being prompted by a journalist, the Argentine defender directly targeted the club’s sporting direction. “I don’t think that [the manager is primarily responsible]. He’s doing his best. You can’t keep changing managers all the time. But what about the other aspects? Tonight, it’s easy to criticize the manager and the players, but you also have to look at the other aspects. I expect more, that’s clear. I expect more from our technical director. Sometimes, what happens on the pitch is a reflection of what we’re seeing at the club right now.”

Martinez went on to demand reinforcements: “We had a fantastic season last year and now we expect more from our leaders: more players to fight, because other teams are recruiting a lot too.” These comments quickly drew a reaction from Wayne Rooney, a historic figure at the club, who judged the Argentine’s remarks “disrespectful to his teammates, because he’s saying they’re not good enough.”

Meanwhile, Amad Diallo, who came on during the match, chose Snapchat to express his frustration. A photo of him accompanied by the comment: “Fucking disgrace; I have no words.” The message, whose target remains unclear, immediately fueled speculation in the English press: was it directed at the team, the board, or at Martinez himself?

This fresh crisis comes at an already worrying time for the Red Devils, who are on a run of five matches without a win across all competitions — three defeats and two draws. As has happened almost every season since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure, Manchester United finds itself plunged into turmoil, this time right at the start of autumn.