Lisandro Martínez has publicly criticised the Manchester United hierarchy after the Red Devils’ 2‑0 loss to Atlético Madrid, arguing that the club’s poor start to the season reflects a lack of investment and support from senior management. The Argentine full‑back, who has been a mainstay in United’s defense for the past few seasons, described the defeat as a “mirror” of the club’s current state and urged the board to step up.
The match, played at the Wanda Metropolitano, saw United’s opponents score twice through Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman. Martínez said the result was “really poor” and that he felt “annoyed, disappointing” to be on the field for a team that “is not trying to get an amazing result.” He added that he expects “100 % more investment” and more support from the club’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, to build a squad capable of competing at the highest level. Martínez also noted that while players must do more, the club must provide the resources and stability needed for success.
United’s summer transfer activity was limited, with only three major signings – Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans – and a free transfer of backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow. The club has won only twice in all competitions this season, suffering the worst start to a league campaign in 40 years. Martínez questioned whether manager Michael Carrick has been adequately backed, stating that “you can’t stay with what you did last season” and that the team needs to evolve or risk falling behind. He suggested that continual changes in management and other areas are problematic.
Carrick responded to the criticism by saying he had not seen the interview in full and that he would need to investigate the matter before commenting. He defended his side’s performance, noting that they had “four almost one‑vs‑ones” and that he did not understand the red card given to Leny Yoro. Carrick acknowledged the fans’ frustration but maintained that the players had been “great” and that the team was disappointed with the result.
The club’s current form has left its supporters and players feeling uneasy, with Martínez’s remarks highlighting the growing pressure on the board to make decisive moves. United will look to regroup in their next fixtures, hoping to reverse the trend and restore confidence in both the squad and the management team.