Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening, and the post-match fallout has compounded lingering issues at the club.
In his first full season as manager, Michael Carrick has won just two games so far this campaign. One was a 5-2 Premier League victory over Ipswich Town, and the other a 4-0 win against Champions League minnows Sabah FK.
In their second European fixture of the term, United were outclassed by Spanish side Atletico. Pablo Barrios fired the home team into an early lead in the first minute at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. United then lost Leny Yoro to a red card in the 74th minute before Ademola Lookman scored five minutes later to make it 2-0 and seal their fate.
Martinez's plane confrontation
In the wake of the defeat, Lisandro Martinez launched a scathing attack on the club's board and summer transfer strategy, suggesting the current squad lacks the quality to play in the Champions League. He has since clashed with a team-mate, according to reports.
Martinez's interview with Amazon Prime after the Atletico game was stark, as he singled out director of football Jason Wilcox and took aim at his team-mates. He also threw his weight behind manager Carrick.
However, according to Sky Sports, some of Martinez's peers were unhappy with how he carried himself in the interview. One player in particular is said to have challenged him.
The report states that on United's flight back to England from Madrid, a player approached him about the interview. It is also claimed that several other squad members have been left unhappy by the Argentine's actions.
That may not come as a surprise considering his rant contained the admission: "It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result."
Manager fined for Man Utd comments
Elsewhere, a different post-match outburst has cost Fulham manager Alvaro Arbeloa. United faced the Cottagers on September 20 and drew 1-1 at Craven Cottage.
Fulham had taken the lead in the 63rd minute through a Martinez own goal, but conceded just before second-half stoppage time after Matheus Cunha's heavily deflected effort flew past Bernd Leno.
After the game, Arbeloa was frustrated by some decisions and unleashed an explosive post-match interview. He said: "I think all fouls for them. Every decision was for them, and I knew, I knew after the game against Man City (a controversial 1-0 loss) that they don't let Manchester United lose here."
This has landed the Spaniard in hot water as he has been hit with a £25,000 fine by the FA and issued with an official warning for his comments.
The commission investigating the issue "felt that those words suggested, not only that there was bias on the part of the match officials throughout the game on repeated occasions, but also that there may even have been an element of pre-meditation by them and/or others to try to make up for an error in a different match."
