Lisandro Martinez has criticised Manchester United’s recruitment strategy and slammed the club for failing to make better investment in the first-team squad after their 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
The Argentina defender questioned whether technical director Jason Wilcox had done enough to strengthen the team, saying responsibility for United’s poor results should not rest solely with head coach Michael Carrick and his players.
“I expect more, from everyone,” Martinez said. “More investment? Yes, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest.”
United fell behind to Pablo Barrios’s goal in the first minute at the Metropolitano before Ademola Lookman scored in the 79th minute. Their task became harder when Leny Yoro was sent off, leaving Carrick’s side to reflect on another disappointing result during a five-game winless run.
Martinez described the performance as a “mirror” of the club’s current state and said United had failed to build sufficiently on last season’s progress.
“Last season we created a base to build an amazing team, but this is something to be honest,” he said. “It’s annoying, to come here with my team and not trying to get an amazing result.”
The 28-year-old accepted that the players needed to improve but argued that United required a stronger squad to compete with Europe’s leading teams. He also questioned whether Carrick had received enough support in the transfer market.
Asked if the head coach had been backed adequately over the summer, Martinez replied: “I don’t think so. He does his best, but every season is different. Teams know how you play, every detail. If you don’t change each season, it’s a big problem.”
He added: “Changing, changing, changing manager? What about other areas? I can’t say more. It’s easy to blame the coach, it’s easy to blame the players, but what about other areas?”
Wilcox is the most senior figure in United’s football department and holds ultimate responsibility for recruitment, although chief executive Omar Berrada also has involvement in sporting matters.
United made three major first-team signings during the summer, bringing in midfielders Youri Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos. Casemiro and reserve goalkeeper Karl Darlow left the club.
The limited recruitment has become a point of concern as United struggle to reproduce the form that helped them finish third in the Premier League last season. Carrick took charge as interim head coach in January after Ruben Amorim’s departure and guided the team to a Champions League return for the first time in three years.
The latest defeat leaves Carrick under pressure, but Martinez’s intervention shifts attention towards the club’s decision-making beyond the touchline. His comments also risk creating tension within the squad.
United midfielder Tielemans, who joined from Aston Villa in the summer, declined to comment when asked about his team-mate’s criticism. Wayne Rooney, the former United captain who was working as an Amazon Prime pundit, said Martinez had gone too far by making his concerns public.
“He’s maybe gone a bit too far, it should really stay internal,” Rooney said. “The fans want to see the players care and he clearly cares, he wants the club to invest more money in players.”
Rooney agreed that United needed to strengthen in attack and defence but questioned whether Martinez’s remarks were fair to his team-mates.
Carrick said he had not seen the interview when asked about the defender’s comments. He acknowledged the disappointment of the defeat but urged the squad to remain united ahead of Sunday’s match against Leeds United.
“After a game like this, you come here to get something and it can be a little emotional,” Carrick said. “We all care and we show that in different ways, but now is the time to be together and prepare for a big game on Sunday.”
