Lisandro Martinez criticised Manchester United's hierarchy after Tuesday night's Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, but one punishment appears to be off the table: banishment from the first team.
The defender admitted he expected more from United in the transfer window and questioned why no one in the boardroom was facing the pressure of being sacked. That comment appeared to be aimed at Jason Wilcox, United's director of football, whose position the club insists is safe.
No decisions were made about Martinez on Wednesday, with players given a scheduled day off before returning to Carrington on Thursday ahead of the trip to Leeds. The 28-year-old will expect to be called into a meeting room on Thursday to discover his fate.
Carrington's history of banishment
In recent years, Carrington has resembled The Traitors' round table, with players frequently banished from the first team. During Ruben Amorim's tenure, he created a 'bomb squad' to distance those who wanted to leave the club from the rest of the squad.
While that approach could work in theory, it sows division in the squad, especially on a topic as divisive as Martinez's comments, where the dressing room is likely to be split. Some will back Martinez fully, others may think he has overstepped the mark.
Putting him outside the tent threatens to undo the work Carrick has done to bring the team together. Results have not been good enough, but at least it no longer feels like a civil war is taking place among the players.
Ronaldo comparison and Martinez's position
When Cristiano Ronaldo was widely criticised and eventually left the club after his outspoken interview with Piers Morgan, the response from United was easy. Ronaldo unleashed on everyone, including the Glazers and Erik ten Hag, and his position at the club had become untenable.
With Martinez it is different. If anything, he backed Carrick. His issue is with those above him, which is why banishing him from the first team feels like the wrong decision. What United do instead to deal with Martinez remains unclear.
