Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has sharply criticized the club’s leadership following a 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, arguing that the squad was not sufficiently reinforced during the summer transfer window. Prior to the fixture at the Metropolitano Stadium, the Supercomputer Opta rated Manchester United’s chances of securing three points to alleviate pressure as very poor, standing at only 27.2% to 29.7%, while a draw was expected at 24.3%.
Lisandro Martínez Directs Criticism at Sport Director Jason Wilcox
“I have to keep myself very together. “We had a fantastic season last year and now we expect more from the leadership group, from above. More players to fight for a place, because many clubs are also bringing in many players.” He added regarding the opponents, “Atlético has a first-class team, and they deserved the win today.”
Lisandro Martinez v Jason Wilcox 😳 pic.twitter.com/TIPtIWI7R5
When asked directly whether he meant that Manchester United lacks a Champions League-caliber squad, Martínez answered bluntly. “To be honest, I expect more. I expect more,” the 28-year-old said, specifically adding, “I expect more from our sporting director,” referring to Jason Wilcox. Under Wilcox, the club spent approximately 173.2 million euros during the summer transfer window, figures that placed Manchester United outside the top 13 highest-spending clubs globally for that period. Major acquisitions included Carlos Baleba for 75.9 million euros, Andrey Santos for 56.3 million euros, Youri Tielemans for 41 million euros, and goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer.
Manager Michael Carrick Receives Defensive Backing
While taking aim at the club’s hierarchy, Martínez firmly defended manager Michael Carrick. Carrick took over as permanent head coach in May on a contract running until 2028, succeeding Rúben Amorim. All doubts have turned toward Carrick’s ability to lead the team, making the trip to Madrid a life-and-death struggle for his future. “He is doing his best,” Martínez stated, noting that it is always easy to criticize the coach or the players. “You cannot constantly change, change, change the coach. But what about the other areas?”
“Right after a game is not the time for me to talk about this interview because I haven’t seen it, so I really can’t say anything about it,” Carrick told reporters.
Domestic Struggles and Form Prior to the European Fixture
The defeat in Spain compounds a difficult stretch for the Red Devils. With Sesko absent, all attacking hopes for the Red Devils rested on the shoulders of Matheus Cunha, who celebrated an emotional reunion with his former club Atlético Madrid. Manchester United secured a third-place finish in the Premier League last term to return to the Champions League after a three-year absence.
Across all competitions prior to the Madrid fixture, United managed only two victories in eight matches, which included an early exit from the Carabao Cup and a 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. In the Champions League, United holds an even record following an opening 4–0 victory over FK Sabah and the subsequent loss to Atlético. The club enters its next fixture winless in five consecutive matches across all competitions.
