Wayne Rooney has criticized Lisandro Martinez's post-match interview following Manchester United's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, suggesting the defender had an agenda and expects the club to take action.
Martinez's Scathing Comments
The 28-year-old Argentine defender gave a bombshell interview after the match, taking aim at the club's hierarchy. Martinez claimed there should have been further investment during the summer transfer window and said he expected more from the technical director, adding that the squad wasn't ready to compete in the Champions League.
The World Cup winner defended head coach Michael Carrick, saying he 'does his best', but felt United didn't do enough to evolve the squad in the summer.
Rooney's Reaction
Speaking to Amazon Prime immediately after the interview, Rooney disagreed with Martinez's assessment of the performance. "I actually disagree as I thought it was a good performance," he said.
Rooney acknowledged that Martinez clearly cares but felt the defender went too far. "He clearly cares and wants the club to invest more money and more players and if they do that I think he'll be one of the players out of the door if I'm being honest with his performances," Rooney added.
Premeditated Interview
Rooney suggested the interview appeared premeditated. "It looked a bit premeditated and something he spoke about with his team to get out there. It's sad because when you need everyone to stick together as players you can't be told what's going on above you," he said.
Rooney concluded that such comments could disrupt the dressing room during a difficult period, saying, "So you need them players, the manager, the coaching staff to stick together when you're having a difficult time otherwise something like that will rip a dressing room apart."
