Manchester United players have been barred from speaking to the media following Lisandro Martinez's controversial post-match interview, with Bruno Fernandes confirming the ban to reporters after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds United.
Fernandes walked past journalists in the mixed zone at Elland Road and, according to The Sun, said: 'I can't speak, I'm not allowed.' The same report states that Matheus Cunha delivered the same message to a Brazilian reporter.
Martinez's criticism and punishment
The ban comes after Martinez criticised the club's hierarchy and recruitment during the summer in his post-match interview following Manchester United's 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid last week. The defender suggested the squad was not good enough to seriously compete in the Premier League and Champions League.
Martinez was fined by the club for his critical remarks and issued an apology on social media. He wrote: 'Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday's game.'
'Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity. The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.'
'Fresh start' at Elland Road
Manchester United's performance at Elland Road was commended by manager Michael Carrick, who described the weekend as a 'fresh start' after a poor start to the season.
'It felt like a bit of a fresh start today – where we're at and accepting it and doing something about it,' said the manager. 'That didn't surprise me today. We're not getting too carried away because we haven't won the game, but if you keep doing the right things for the right reasons then you get what you deserve in the end.'
Carrick added: 'It definitely shows that the boys are desperate to do well for each other as much as anything else and how much they appreciate playing for this club, because there was a real purpose to the group over the last couple of days and they took it on the pitch. There was an edge to the game, an intensity. I spoke to the boys this morning about the history and what it means to the supporters, the club, to us coming over here into the territory.'
