Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has sparked controversy after openly criticising the club’s hierarchy following a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, with former United captain Wayne Rooney accusing the Argentine of being disrespectful to his teammates.The defender’s post-match interview raised questions about United’s summer recruitment strategy and the club’s readiness to compete at the highest level. Martinez expressed frustration with the lack of further investment in the squad, suggesting that the club’s decision-makers should have done more after the team secured its return to the Champions League.Speaking to Amazon Prime, Martinez said: “I have to control myself a lot. But sometimes it’s a reflection in the mirror of how is our club at the moment,” Martinez told Amazon Prime. “We did a fantastic season last season. And now we expect more from the top, from up, to bring more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well, and today also Atletico they have an amazing team and they deserved to win today.“I expect more from our technical director. I would have to be honest, as the players, we have to do more, but it’s just important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”United, under director of football Jason Wilcox, reportedly invested around $213 million during the summer transfer window, bringing in players including Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos. Despite that spending, the club has endured a disappointing start to the campaign.The defeat in Madrid extended United’s winless streak across all competitions to five matches. The team has managed just one Premier League victory and currently sits 13th in the standings.Martinez also reflected on the contrast between last season’s progress and the team’s current struggles, expressing disappointment with the performance in Spain.“Last season we did everything; we created the base to be an amazing team,” Martinez said. “It’s annoying, disappointing to come here and I’m not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here, it’s disappointing.”Atletico made an immediate impact, with Pablo Barrios scoring in the opening minute before Ademola Lookman added a second-half goal to secure the victory. The result has increased scrutiny on United head coach Michael Carrick as the club attempts to recover from its difficult start.However, Martinez suggested that the focus on managerial changes overlooks other issues within the organisation.“You start changing, changing, changing manager. But what about other areas?” Martinez said. “I can’t say more.”
Wayne Rooney questions Martinez’s motives
Rooney strongly disagreed with Martinez’s decision to air his frustrations publicly, arguing that concerns about recruitment and squad quality should be discussed internally rather than through the media.Speaking on Amazon Prime after the match, the former United striker said: “I actually disagree as I thought it was a good performance.“It’s a difficult one because I always used to feel like I was outspoken as a player, and you want to have your opinion, but I think he’s maybe gone too far; that should be down to the manager, and that should stay internal because the fans want to hear the players speak and they want to see them care.“He clearly cares and wants the club to invest more money and more players, and if they do that, I think he’ll be one of the players out the door if I’m being honest with his performances.“His performances haven’t been good enough but I think in some ways he is right, in terms of the club need to invest more at the top end of the pitch and in defence as well.“I think it looks like that was a bit of an agenda from him because that doesn’t mirror the performance. I thought the performance was better.”Although Rooney acknowledged that United need improvements in key areas, he questioned why Martinez chose that particular moment to make his concerns public.“I think Martinez was very premeditated. Why is he doing the interview after this game? Has he put himself forward, I very rarely hear him speak.“It looked a bit premeditated and something he spoke about with his team to get out there. It’s sad because when you need everyone to stick together as players, you can’t be told what’s going on above you.“So you need them players, the manager, the coaching staff to stick together when you’re having a difficult time; otherwise, something like that will rip a dressing room apart.“I think it’s a bit disrespectful to his team-mates as well because he’s disrespecting his team-mates, he’s saying they’re not good enough. So he’s saying his team-mates aren’t good enough, so it’s disrespectful.”Rooney also suggested that captain Bruno Fernandes would be better placed to raise concerns on behalf of the squad, while insisting that any issues should be addressed privately.“I think Bruno is probably the only one who has any right coming out and saying something like that if I’m being honest as captain. And even then, it should be behind closed doors if there are issues, which does happen.“Players have conversations with the manager, the manager then has a conversation with the board, but that interview there, it’s not going to help the situation the club is in at the minute.“Now all that’s going to bring is more noise around it, the players are unhappy, they’re unsettled, they don’t trust in their own team-mates, that’s not going to help at all.”
Rooney draws on his own experience
Rooney went further when discussing whether Martinez was attempting to reflect the frustrations of Manchester United supporters. While expressing appreciation for the defender’s ability, he pointed to his injury record and questioned whether he had done enough to speak on behalf of the squad.“I don’t think he’s really connected with the fans since he’s been here, to be honest, because he’s been injured a lot.“I actually like him, I think he’s a good player, but he’s been injured, so for the money the Man United pay for him, he hasn’t given the service back really.“From that point of view, that’s not me being disrespectful, I just think he’s had a lot of injuries and hasn’t played that much.“So I think he’s trying to speak on behalf of the players if you like, but I think he’s done it in the wrong way, as I said before, I think that should be from the captain if that’s the case.“For me, it’s disrespectful to his teammates. I had a similar situation when I went in and asked Alex Ferguson about what players we were bringing in, and I apologised two days later.“So I can speak from experience of what he’s just done, I think it is very disrespectful, there’s a lot of young players in that dressing room as well that need some guidance from experienced players.”Drawing on his own playing career, Rooney argued that experienced footballers have a responsibility to guide younger teammates, particularly during difficult periods. He also indicated that the club’s board may need to respond to Martinez’s remarks.“The board have to look at that, and they probably have to take some action on that, because that’s just disrespecting the whole football club.“Yes, there’s issues, everyone wants more players and better players, but this is the players you’ve got. As a player, you’ve got to get on with it.“You’ve got to go and show why you’re a World Cup winner, as I said before. So, I think the board have to either come out and speak on it, or maybe he’s done that to flush them out and get them to speak to the fans, but I just think it’s the wrong time, and it’s not going to help anyone.”
Ashley Young backs Rooney’s assessment
Former Manchester United player Ashley Young also questioned Martinez’s timing, agreeing that the club’s recruitment process needs improvement but stressing that players must take responsibility for their performances.Young acknowledged that United could have strengthened other areas of the squad during the summer, particularly in attack and defence. However, he argued that rebuilding the team cannot happen all at once.“Of course, there is a lot of it that the players are talking about it. We spoke before the game about how the club needed to invest more, but when they’ve invested in the midfield but what does he want?“Go and buy a whole new team? They’re not going to do that. They need to start in different positions. They could’ve bought up front or in defence but they didn’t. He’s just come off the pitch, emotions are running high, we know that.“But we know the recruitment has to work, it has to be better but they’ve got to take time and do it. The players have got to take it upon themselves, ‘we’re the players that are in this team, we’re the players that are in this squad and go out on the pitch.’“They are the ones who have to go and produce and show what they’re about. There’s not going to be any change now until January.”With the January transfer window still some way off, United face mounting pressure to improve results with their existing squad.Martinez’s criticism has highlighted concerns about recruitment and the club’s direction, but Rooney and Young believe that publicly airing such frustrations risks creating further divisions inside the dressing room at a time when unity is crucial.
