Martinez Turns on Manchester United Board After Atletico Defeat

Lisandro Martinez delivered a scathing assessment of Manchester United's direction after a 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, telling reporters the result was "a reflection of the mirror of how our club is at the moment."

Goals from Pablo Barrios — after just 53 seconds — and Ademola Lookman sank a United side reduced to ten men when Leny Yoro was sent off. The defeat extends a miserable run: United have won only twice in all competitions this season and are enduring their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years.

"I expect more"

"I have to control myself a lot," Martinez said at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. "It is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas. I expect more investment, 100 percent. I expect more from our technical director."

United won 12 of 17 games under Michael Carrick last season but added only three major signings in the summer — Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans — plus back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer. "You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager," Martinez added, pointing upwards. "What about other areas? I can't say more."

Reaction

Carrick said he had only "half-heard" the interview and attributed it to "the emotions of the game," while insisting his players had created "four almost one-v-ones" and could have left Madrid with a result. The comments drew a sharp response elsewhere: Jamie Carragher called them "awful" and Wayne Rooney branded them "disrespectful" in reaction carried by Sky Sports.

United return home with questions multiplying — about investment, about the squad's depth, and now about whether frustration inside the dressing room is becoming public.