Lisandro Martinez has come out swinging against Manchester United's hierarchy after their disappointing 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
The Argentine defender stressed that the club must bolster their squad and took aim at technical director Jason Wilcox, asserting that expectations should be higher.
United found themselves on the back foot early in the match, with Pablo Barrios scoring within the first minute. The situation worsened in the second half when Leni Yoro was sent off, paving the way for Ademola Lookman to add a second goal for the hosts.
Post-match, Martinez didn't shy away from addressing the broader issues at the club, highlighting that the struggles are not solely the responsibility of the coach or players.
“I have to control myself, but sometimes this reflects the state our club is in. Last season, we had a fantastic campaign, and now we expect more from the hierarchy. We need new players to compete with other teams,”
he remarked, underlining his frustrations.
Martinez took a more pointed jab at Wilcox, indicating that he had anticipated more proactive measures from the technical department.
“I expected more from our technical director. We, the players, must also do more. But it’s crucial that the team has a strong squad ready for matches like these,”
the defender emphasised.
He advocated for a thorough evaluation of the club's operations, asserting that changes must go beyond the managerial level.
“You can keep changing coaches over and over. But what about the other areas?”
he added, reinforcing his point.
This latest defeat against Atletico extends Manchester United’s winless streak to five matches across all competitions. Martinez’s vocal criticism increases the pressure on the hierarchy and caretaker manager Michael Carrick, who now faces the challenge of steering the club out of a precarious situation.
