Troy Deeney called Lisandro Martinez ‘a muppet’ after his Man Utd apology, following Jason Wilcox’s rant, in a harsh but straightforward critique.
Former Watford striker Troy Deeney has shared mixed feelings about Lisandro Martinez’s recent remarks about Jason Wilcox after Manchester United’s loss to Atletico Madrid earlier this week.
Martinez openly criticized United’s director of football following their 2-0 defeat at the Wanda Metropolitano, which caused quite a buzz. He later released two statements to explain why he spoke out.
In his first statement on October 14, Martinez said he spoke from anger and frustration about the result and made it clear how much he wants the team to aim for big trophies. He added that having high standards is part of wearing the club’s shirt and that everyone must share the ambition to grow, get stronger, and compete at the highest level—starting with himself.
Martinez was fined and had to apologize publicly. On October 15, he gave another statement, saying he met with the club’s leaders and manager and had a positive, open chat about what happened. He admitted his passion and frustration got the better of him, and he apologized for choosing the wrong time and place to express his feelings.
While many have moved on, the outspoken former Watford striker and pundit Deeney has accused Martinez of backing down and “messing up” his initial bold comments, though he also said he admired the defender’s honesty.
Deeney told The Sun, “If you really mean it, you don’t apologize just because someone tells you to. I’m not part of Manchester United, but I’m guessing they gave him a choice: take the fine and say sorry or stay out of the weekend’s game. He messed up. What he said on Tuesday now doesn’t count. If you want to stand your ground, do it properly.”
He added, “This just makes him look foolish. I always thought he was overrated. People say he’s a tough competitor, but isn’t that what players should be? Even my six-year-old competes, but I tell him he needs to be better to be a pro. This shows that you can say you care about the team, but really you care more about your paycheck.”
Manchester United will play Leeds United away on Sunday, October 18, looking for just their second Premier League win this season. Head coach Michael Carrick confirmed that Martinez will be in the squad despite the recent controversy.
Carrick said in a press conference on October 16, “He’s apologized and knows he made a mistake—that’s enough for us to move on. We’re ready to focus on the next game now.”