Martinez blasts Man Utd hierarchy for failing Carrick after Champions League defeat to Atletico

Lisandro Martinez launched a public attack on Manchester United’s football hierarchy after the club’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, claiming director of football Jason Wilcox had not done enough to back head coach Michael Carrick in the summer transfer window. The result extended United’s winless run to five matches and left them in serious trouble in Europe.

Speaking in a post-match interview, an evidently frustrated Martinez did not hold back. “I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest,” he said. “Changing, changing, changing manager? What about other areas? It’s easy to blame the coach, it’s easy to blame the players, but what about other areas?”

The Argentine centre-back also questioned the squad’s readiness for elite competition, saying United currently lack “belief” and “energy” and appear disconnected as a group. “Last season we created a base to build an amazing team, but this is something to be honest,” he added. “It’s annoying to come here with my team and not trying to get an amazing result.”

Martinez went further by suggesting United do not currently belong among Europe’s elite, a claim that drew a sharp response from former Arsenal and England midfielder Paul Merson. “I’ve never heard that from a professional footballer,” Merson said. “To say the club are not a Champions League club — they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world of football. You can’t really say that. There are a lot of lesser clubs in that Champions League than Manchester United.”

Merson also pointed to Martinez’s own performance in the defeat, noting the defender was at fault for losing Dominic Solanke in the penalty area for one of Atletico’s goals.

The fallout from the interview appears to extend beyond the media. Reports indicate that Martinez’s comments prompted a confrontation from at least one United teammate on the flight back to Manchester, and the club is said to be considering internal disciplinary action. The scale of the reaction underlines just how raw the mood is inside Old Trafford as United’s season continues to unravel.