Lisandro Martinez speaks up again, criticizing Man United’s board in a second surprising interview.
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has spoken out again about his frustrations with the club’s leadership after their Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid.
United failed to win for the fifth game in a row across all competitions, losing 2-0 to Atletico Madrid. The team was down to 10 men after Leny Yoro was sent off in the 74th minute for stopping a clear goal chance. The tough game at the Metropolitano Stadium got even harder when Martinez criticized the club’s sporting director, Jason Wilcox, in a way that reminded fans of Mohamed Salah’s honest comments at Liverpool last year.
Martinez’s honesty has earned respect from many Man United fans worldwide, though it may also lead to some trouble for him. He openly shared his disappointment about the club’s transfer window, hinting that more support is needed from the top.
“Really poor. I have to control myself a lot. Sometimes it feels like a reflection of our club right now,” the 28-year-old said on Amazon Prime. “We did great last season, and I expect the leadership to bring in more players to compete, because other teams are signing many players. I expect more from our technical director, and honestly, as players, we also need to work harder.”
Since joining from Ajax in 2022, Martinez knows how tough the club can be on managers. He suggested that Michael Carrick hasn’t been properly supported. After his first interview, Martinez doubled down on these points in a chat with Man United legend Peter Schmeichel.
“We have many games to play and need to rotate players, but I don’t believe we have the strongest squad compared to other top teams,” Martinez told CBS Sports. “As a club, I expect more ambition. I won’t stay quiet—we need to improve. We can do better because we have great players.
“When watching the games, it’s easy to blame the players and manager, and yes, we own that responsibility. But the club needs to step up too. We need more ambition and to talk openly about winning the Champions League and Premier League. If we don’t speak the truth, nothing changes.”
Some teammates, like midfielder Youri Tielemans, stayed silent on these issues after the match. Carrick, under pressure with no wins in the last five games, also did not comment.
Martinez’s blunt words echo what Salah did at Liverpool in December 2025 after a tough draw, which led to Salah being dropped for an important Champions League match. Martinez could face similar consequences.
Man United legend Wayne Rooney called Martinez’s comments “premeditated” and “disrespectful” for publicly criticizing the club. Rooney said, “It felt like Martinez planned this out. He rarely speaks up like this. When the team needs to be united, such comments can tear the dressing room apart. It’s also unfair to his teammates; he’s implying they aren’t good enough.”
Man United will next face Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday, October 18. Expect the talk ahead of that game to focus on Martinez’s bold remarks.