Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has taken aim at Lisandro Martinez following the defender's outspoken comments regarding the club's situation. The former striker believes the Argentine has shown a lack of respect to his teammates and is jeopardising the dressing room atmosphere.
This all stems from Martinez's interview after United's 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Having played the entire match, the defender described the team's performance as woeful and was highly critical of the hierarchy's approach to addressing their issues.
Martinez was particularly incensed by the constant turnover of managers, suggesting the club cannot simply keep sacking coaches while the underlying problems remain tied to decisions made at the top.
He also backed Michael Carrick, claiming the manager lacks adequate support and that the squad needs further investment to be competitive.
However, Rooney is sceptical as to whether such statements should have been made publicly.
The former United captain remarked:
I think Martinez planned this all in advance. Why did he decide to give such an interview right after this match? Did he volunteer to speak to the press? I rarely hear him speak up.
Rooney suspects that the defender may have discussed his comments with his inner circle before speaking out.
He continued:
Everything looked as if it had been premeditated. Perhaps he spoke with his team about everything and decided to go public.
It's a shame because in tough times, players need to stick together.
Rooney emphasised the importance of maintaining unity within the squad and with the coaching staff, even if frustrations are bubbling beneath the surface.
He explained:
Players, the head coach, and the coaching staff need to support each other when the team is going through a challenging period.
Otherwise, statements like this can simply fracture the dressing room.
What concerned Rooney the most was the potential interpretation of Martinez's words as a critique of his own teammates.
He added:
I think this is also a sign of disrespect towards his colleagues. Essentially, he is saying they are not good enough.
This situation only adds more pressure on Carrick, who is already fighting to turn around a challenging start to the season.
United have already been eliminated from the League Cup and are virtually out of the title race. Now, they face a crucial away match against Leeds, where there is a pressing need to right the ship.
The future of Martinez himself remains uncertain, with his contract expiring in less than a year and negotiations for an extension yet to reach a conclusion.
Despite the controversial interview, the defender could find himself in the starting XI against Leeds. Carrick must not only seek a positive result but also work to restore team cohesion after public criticism from one of its leaders.
