Lisandro Martinez (Credits: Source)
Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has launched a blistering attack on the club’s hierarchy, accusing the board of failing to strengthen the squad after United secured a return to the Champions League.
“I Expect More — 100%”
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid, Martinez did not hold back. “We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well,” he said.
He added: “Atletico have an amazing team and they deserved to win today. I expect more [investment]. 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox].” Martinez was also honest enough to admit that “as players we have to do more,” but he made clear he believes the club’s leadership must match the squad’s ambition.
A Season Going Sideways
The outburst comes at a grim moment for United. The Atletico defeat means the Red Devils have now gone five games without a win. Their most recent victory came against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on September 10, and their only other win in nine matches this season was a come-from-behind victory over newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford.
That is a stark contrast to last season, when United finished third in the Premier League to seal a Champions League return for the first time in three years. The club won 12 of Michael Carrick’s 17 games in interim charge after Ruben Amorim was dismissed in January — form good enough to earn the former United midfielder a permanent two-year contract as head coach.
Martinez, who joined United from Ajax in 2022, has rarely been shy about speaking his mind, but publicly calling out the board mid-season is a bold move. Whether the hierarchy answers his demand for investment remains to be seen.
Martinez’s comments cut to the heart of a familiar United debate: after fighting their way back into the Champions League, did the club back its manager in the transfer market? The defender clearly believes the answer is no — and he is not the first United player in recent years to voice frustration about the gap between the club’s ambitions and its investment.
United’s hierarchy now faces a delicate situation. A senior player publicly demanding more from the technical director is the kind of story that does not fade quickly, especially with results this poor. How the board responds — in January and beyond — will say a lot about where the club is really heading under Carrick.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
