Lisandro Martinez has been told he was wrong to say Manchester United are not a Champions League club after he called out the club’s hierarchy. Following the 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, Martinez criticised United’s lack of ambition and launched a blistering attack on the club’s director of football Jason Wilcox.
Martinez took aim at Wilcox for a lack of summer transfer business and said that United do not have "the best squad at the moment compared with other top teams." The defender also claimed his side currently appears to lack "belief" and "energy," while admitting they seem disconnected.
Merson hits back at Martinez
Reacting to the interview, former Arsenal star Paul Merson told Sky Sports: "They [technical directors] bring in the players, don’t get me wrong. That’s the day and age we’re in.
"But when you get out there, you’ve got to perform. He’s the one who lost Solanke, he’s the one who lost him in the box.
"I’ve never heard that from a professional footballer. And 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’s a lot lesser clubs in that Champions League than Manchester United."
Martinez vents after defeat
While speaking after the game at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, a fuming Martinez told Prime Video: "Really poor performance, really poor. I have to control myself a lot. But sometimes it is the reflection, the mirror, for our club at the moment.
"A fantastic season last season, but now we are far from the top. We have to bring in more players to compete. Look at Atletico, they had an amazing team, they deserved to win.
"I expect more, from everyone. More investment? Yes, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest."
Before he continued: "As players, we have to do more, but it’s also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this sort of night.
"Last season we created a base to build an amazing team, but this is something to be honest. It’s annoying to come here with my team and not trying to get an amazing result."
Carrick responds
Martinez was then asked if United head coach Michael Carrick was sufficiently backed with investment in the squad over the summer. He responded: "I don’t think so. He does his best, but every season is different. Teams know how you play, every detail. If you don’t change each season, it’s a big problem.
"Changing, changing, changing manager? What about other areas? I can’t say more. It’s easy to blame the coach, it’s easy to blame the players, but what about other areas?"
Martinez may face internal disciplinary action, while it is also being reported that his comments prompted a challenge from at least one United player on the flight back to Manchester and caused tension to be heightened. His outburst is understood to have particularly angered some members of the squad.
The Argentine’s suggestion that his fellow United players were not good enough to compete at the highest level is also claimed to have particularly angered members of the squad and a split may have formed.
Asked about the defender’s comments, United boss Carrick replied: "I haven't seen it. We're disappointed - sometimes he can be a little bit emotional.
"I've not seen it. I don't think now is the right time for me to comment on it. I fully know we all care. We show that in different ways. But now is certainly the time to be together and work through. We've got a big game now on Sunday. We've got to prepare for that properly."
