Sports · Football · 3 hrs ago
Martínez criticises Manchester United hierarchy after defeat at Atlético Madrid
Lisandro Martínez criticised Manchester United’s hierarchy after the team lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid in Madrid on Tuesday.
He said the club needed more investment and a stronger squad, while acknowledging that the players also had to do more.
United have won only twice this season, and the Atlético defeat extended their winless run to five games.
Last season, United finished third in the Premier League and returned to the Champions League, but they made three major signings over the summer, all in midfield.
Martínez said managers should not keep being changed without addressing other parts of the club.
Manager Michael Carrick said he had not heard the full interview and could not yet say whether there would be a response.
Former United players Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young warned that Martínez’s comments could harm unity in the dressing room.
United’s next response to the criticism is not yet clear.
Manchester United lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid, extending their winless run to five games.
United defender Lisandro Martínez criticised the club hierarchy, saying he expected more investment and ambition.
Martínez said the squad needed strengthening but also accepted that players had to do more.
Manager Michael Carrick said he had not seen the interview and suggested the comments might reflect the emotions of the game.
Former United captain Wayne Rooney said Martínez’s remarks could damage the dressing room and were disrespectful to teammates.
- Who
- Lisandro Martínez criticised Manchester United’s hierarchy. Manager Michael Carrick and former United captain Wayne Rooney also responded.
- What
- United lost 2-0 at Atlético Madrid, and Martínez called for more investment and higher ambition from the club.
- When
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
- Where
- The match was played at Atlético Madrid’s stadium in Madrid.
- Why
- Martínez said United needed a stronger squad to compete and that the club should address problems beyond the manager and players.
Lisandro Martínez
Wayne Rooney
Responsibility for United’s problems
Lisandro Martínez
Martínez said the club hierarchy and other areas must be scrutinised, alongside the players.
Wayne Rooney
Rooney said Martínez’s comments implied his teammates were not good enough and risked harming the dressing room.
How to raise concerns
Lisandro Martínez
Martínez publicly called for more investment and ambition.
Wayne Rooney
Rooney said the criticism should have been made behind closed doors and that the interview was not helpful.
United’s most recent win before the Atlético match was against Sabah FK, according to BBC Sport.
United lost 2-0 away to Atlético Madrid.
Martínez criticised the club hierarchy and called for more investment.
Carrick said he had not seen Martínez’s interview, while Rooney criticised the defender’s comments.
- Result
- Atlético Madrid 2-0 Manchester United
- United winless run
- Five games, according to BBC Sport
- Martínez’s demand
- More investment and a stronger squad
- United signings
- Three major signings in the summer, according to the Guardian
- United league finish last season
- Third, according to BBC Sport
- United contract for Martínez
- One year remained, according to BBC Sport
3 sources
Related
Barcelona beat Galatasaray 4-1 after falling behind in Istanbul
3 hrs ago · 21 sources
Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 to maintain perfect Champions League start
3 hrs ago · 15 sources
Tresoldi hat-trick leads Club Brugge to 4-3 win over Inter
3 hrs ago · 18 sources
Atlético Madrid beat Manchester United 2-0 in Champions League
3 hrs ago · 12 sources
What people are saying
I expect more [investment], 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox].
We need more ambition. We need to talk more about winning Champions League, talk more about winning the Premier League instead of other things.
Something like that will rip that dressing room apart
I think it’s a little bit the emotions of the game [talking].