Lisandro Martinez could face a suspension from Man United after a surprising interview where he criticized the club following the loss to Atletico Madrid.
Lisandro Martinez didn’t hold back in a surprising interview after Manchester United’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, where he openly criticised the club and technical director Jason Wilcox.
Man United’s tough run continued on Tuesday night with a painful defeat in the Champions League. But things got even more intense when Martinez shared some strong opinions after the game, calling out both the club’s management and his teammates.
At the start of the match, Atletico took the lead quickly thanks to Pablo Barrios, and United struggled to catch up. In the second half, things got harder after a red card for United’s Leny Yoro, which was followed by a goal from Ademola Lookman, putting Atletico firmly ahead.
After the final whistle, Martinez didn’t hold back, saying the club isn’t where it should be right now. He urged the leadership to do more, especially when it comes to bringing in new players to compete.
He said on Amazon Prime, “It’s really poor right now. I have to keep my emotions in check. This is a tough reflection of how things are at our club. Last season was great, but I want to see more effort from those at the top — we need more new players, other teams are bringing in many.”
Martinez also said he feels the board didn’t give enough support over the summer, and that the manager, Michael Carrick, hasn’t been backed properly. “He’s doing his best, but every season is different. You can’t rely just on what worked last season. If you don’t change, it becomes a big problem.”
After his comments, teammate Youri Tielemans and Carrick both chose not to respond. Meanwhile, Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney said Martinez’s interview was disrespectful to his teammates and warned it could lead to punishment.
Martinez’s outspoken words remind some of Mohamed Salah’s similar interview after Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with Leeds in 2025, where Salah also criticised his manager and the club’s treatment of him. Salah was soon dropped from the squad, so Martinez might face similar consequences, like missing the upcoming match against Leeds United or having his wages cut for breaking club rules.
This bold interview has definitely stirred up a lot of talking points around Manchester United.