Roy Keane fires back strongly at Lisandro Martinez’s Jason Wilcox rant, suggesting a tough punishment
Roy Keane has shared his thoughts on Lisandro Martinez’s recent comments about Manchester United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox. After United’s 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on October 13, Martinez expressed his frustration and called for more investment in the first-team squad.
In a post-match interview at the Metropolitano, the Argentine defender didn’t hold back. He said he expected more support from the club’s leaders, even though United spent £155 million on four new signings this summer: Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba, and Karl Darlow.
Martinez told Amazon Prime, “I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it shows how our club is right now. Last season was great, but now we expect more from the people upstairs to bring in more players because many other teams have brought in new players too.”
When asked if the club needs to spend more on the first team, he said, “Yes, 100 percent. I expect more from our technical director. As players, we have to do more too. It’s also important to build a strong squad to be ready for nights like this.”
By speaking out, Martinez could face a fine or even suspension. He also defended the head coach, Michael Carrick, saying, “He does his best. But every season is different. You can’t rely on what worked last season because teams learn your style and tactics. If you don’t adapt, you’ll face problems. Changing managers isn’t the only answer — other areas need attention too.”
Martinez’s strong words have split opinion among United fans. During the latest episode of The Overlap, former captain Roy Keane was very clear about his opinion. As Gary Neville read Martinez’s statement, Keane interrupted, saying, “Wait a minute—we had a fantastic season last year? That’s where he’s coming from? Honestly, he should be fined two weeks’ wages for saying that.”
United hasn’t announced any punishment yet. Carrick said he still needs to look into the situation more, saying, “I haven’t seen the full interview but I know it came right after a tough game. It’s not the best time to talk about it. We need to move on quickly because we have an important game on Sunday. Everyone is disappointed, and so am I.”
Manchester United will next play away against Leeds United on October 18.