Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has publicly criticized the club's leadership following a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The Argentine international questioned United's summer transfer spending and accused senior officials of failing to provide enough support for manager Michael Carrick.
The defeat in Madrid extended United's winless streak to five matches across all competitions. Martinez expressed frustration with the team's performance and suggested that problems at the club went beyond the players and coaching staff.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match, Martinez singled out director of football Jason Wilcox. He argued that United should have strengthened its squad more aggressively after finishing third in the Premier League last season.
His comments sparked an immediate response from former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney, who accused the defender of undermining his teammates by publicly questioning the quality of the squad.
Martinez Questions United's Summer Investment
Martinez said United had failed to build adequately on the progress achieved during Carrick's first spell in charge.
The team finished third in the Premier League last season, securing a return to Champions League football after two years away from the competition. That achievement raised expectations among supporters and players.
However, Martinez believes the club did not make enough improvements during the summer transfer window to compete consistently against stronger European opponents.
According to Reuters, the defender expressed particular disappointment with the support provided by Wilcox and the club's recruitment department.
"I expect more from our technical director," Martinez said during his post-match interview.
He also acknowledged that players needed to take responsibility for their performances. However, he maintained that recruitment decisions and long-term planning deserved equal scrutiny.
United spent approximately £148 million during the summer transfer window, concentrating much of its investment on midfield reinforcements.
The arrivals included Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Despite those additions, United has struggled to produce consistent performances during the opening months of the season.
Martinez argued that the club needed a stronger squad capable of competing against teams such as Atletico Madrid.
His criticism suggested that United's problems could not be solved simply by replacing coaches whenever results deteriorated.
Defender Questions Repeated Managerial Changes
Martinez also challenged the club's history of changing managers without achieving lasting improvement.
He suggested that repeated coaching appointments had failed to address weaknesses in recruitment and other areas of football operations.
"You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager," Martinez said.
His remarks reflected a concern that responsibility for poor results too often falls on managers and players rather than the executives making broader decisions.
Carrick became United's permanent manager after a successful interim spell during the 2025–26 season.
He initially took charge following Ruben Amorim's departure in January and helped United recover from a difficult period.
Carrick won 12 of his 17 matches during that spell, guiding the club back into the Champions League. The results earned him a permanent appointment and renewed optimism among supporters.
However, the current season has been considerably more difficult.
United has won only two of its opening nine competitive matches and sits 13th in the Premier League. Its recent performances have raised questions about whether the squad is strong enough to compete domestically and in Europe.
Martinez appeared determined to defend Carrick while directing criticism toward the club's senior management.
Atletico Madrid Extends United's Winless Run
Manchester United's latest defeat came at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid.
Atletico took the lead almost immediately when Pablo Barrios scored during the opening minute.
The early goal put United under pressure and forced Carrick's players to chase the match against a disciplined Atletico side.
United struggled to create enough clear scoring opportunities despite periods of possession.
The situation became more difficult when defender Leny Yoro received a red card in the second half.
Ademola Lookman added Atletico's second goal, securing a 2-0 victory for the Spanish club.
The result left United with three points from its opening Champions League fixtures and intensified concerns about its ability to compete against leading European teams.
Martinez described the performance as deeply disappointing and questioned whether United had approached the match with sufficient quality and determination.
His frustration was particularly notable because it came immediately after another defeat rather than during a scheduled interview or a period away from competitive matches.
Wayne Rooney Calls Martinez's Remarks Disrespectful
Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney strongly criticized Martinez after hearing his comments.
Rooney argued that publicly questioning the club's recruitment effectively suggested that existing teammates were not good enough.
He believed that such criticism could damage relationships within the squad at a time when players needed to remain united.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, Rooney described Martinez's remarks as disrespectful and suggested that the defender was acting to protect his own reputation.
Rooney also questioned whether Martinez had performed consistently enough to justify his criticism.
The former England striker noted that injuries had limited Martinez's contributions during previous seasons.
Rooney contrasted Martinez's position with that of United captain Bruno Fernandes, whom he regarded as having greater standing to raise concerns about the club's direction.
Importantly, Rooney was criticizing Martinez, not Fernandes.
Rooney's comments about a player protecting his own interests and making preplanned remarks were directed at Martinez's interview.
The disagreement exposed contrasting views about whether footballers should discuss internal concerns publicly.
Martinez appeared to believe that senior officials needed to accept greater responsibility. Rooney argued that such discussions belonged behind closed doors because they could weaken confidence in the dressing room.
Former United player Ashley Young also questioned the wisdom of Martinez's public statements.
Michael Carrick Responds to Controversy
Carrick was asked about Martinez's remarks during his post-match media appearances.
The manager said he had not watched the interview and had only heard parts of what the defender had said.
He suggested that the emotional circumstances surrounding the defeat could have influenced Martinez's comments.
Carrick declined to make an immediate judgment and indicated that he needed to understand the full interview before deciding whether any further action was necessary.
He also defended the attitude of his players, emphasizing that the squad remained committed to improving results.
The manager acknowledged the disappointment of losing another match but rejected the suggestion that United lacked unity.
Carrick believed his team had created opportunities against Atletico despite failing to score.
He also expressed frustration with Yoro's dismissal, questioning whether the red card was justified.
His response avoided escalating the dispute with Martinez while leaving open the possibility of discussing the interview privately.
The episode nevertheless added another challenge for Carrick as he attempts to improve results and maintain confidence among his players.
Manchester United Faces Important Upcoming Matches
United must now prepare for a Premier League trip to Leeds United on Sunday, October 18.
The match at Elland Road provides an opportunity to end the club's five-game winless streak and reduce some of the pressure surrounding Carrick.
United then travels to Italy to face Como in the Champions League on Wednesday, October 21.
Further Premier League fixtures against Bournemouth and Chelsea follow later in October.
The demanding schedule leaves Carrick with limited time to address tactical problems and manage the public disagreement involving Martinez.
The defender's criticism also raises questions about the relationship between United's players and the officials responsible for recruitment.
No formal disciplinary action against Martinez has been announced following the interview.
For now, United's immediate concern is improving performances before its next league match. The team's response against Leeds will provide an early indication of whether Carrick can restore momentum after another difficult European defeat.