"I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it's a reflection of how our club is at the moment." That was Lisandro Martínez, quoted by express.co.uk after Manchester United's 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid. The defender did not pin the night solely on Michael Carrick. Instead, he turned the focus upward, saying United expected more from the people upstairs, more players to compete and a stronger squad for nights like this.

The result itself was bad enough. Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United swung early when Pablo Barrios scored after 1 minute, then collapsed for United when Leny Yoro was sent off in the 74th minute after a VAR check and Ademola Lookman added the second in the 79th.

Martinez's message to the hierarchy

Martinez's strongest line was not about tactics or one refereeing call. It was about the club's build.

Speaking after the defeat, he said: "I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it's a reflection of how our club is at the moment. We had a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, from the people upstairs, to bring in more players to compete, because many teams have signed a lot of players as well. Atletico have an amazing team. They decided to win today, and this is not a Champions League-quality squad."

That last line should be treated as his opinion, not an objective verdict on the squad, but the frustration is obvious. United finished third in the Premier League last season and returned to the Champions League for the first time in three years. A month into this campaign, they are already back in the familiar cycle of defeats, recriminations and questions about recruitment.

Martinez has started 7 games this season, so this was not a fringe player taking a swing from the margins. His form has been steadier than spectacular domestically, with a 6.7 average rating in the league, but he has been better in Europe, where his average is 7.3. That does not make him immune from criticism, though it does mean his complaints carry some weight inside a struggling side.

There is an important distinction in the fallout. Martinez criticised the hierarchy and expected more from Jason Wilcox, but that is not the same as publicly demanding a sacking. Some of the reaction has pushed it that way. The quotes available do not.

Carrick was not his main target

Martinez also refused to make Carrick the convenient fall guy. Asked if the problem was the manager, he told express.co.uk: "I don't think so. He does his best, but every season is different. You can't stay with what you did last season. Teams know how you play; they know every detail. If you don't change, it's a big problem."

That feels closer to a dressing-room warning than a rebellion against the coach. Martinez is arguing that last season's platform has not been developed. In plain football terms, opponents have adjusted and United have not moved on quickly enough.

Carrick's own reaction, quoted by metro.co.uk, stayed on the match itself: "We started having some control in the second half without having real threat. Then there was Bruno's chance and then the red card, which I felt was a poor decision."

That explains part of the defeat, but not the wider mood around the club. United are now winless in five matches across all competitions. They sit 13th in the Premier League with 6 points from 6 games. Against that backdrop, Martinez's interview was always going to travel far beyond one bad night in Madrid.

Rooney's pushback and the bigger problem

Wayne Rooney was not convinced Martinez had judged the moment well. Speaking to mirror.co.uk, Rooney said: "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."

He went further with a second criticism: "I think it looks like a player trying to look after himself in my opinion."

That is a fair challenge, because public criticism from inside the dressing room can easily sound like self-preservation after a poor run. But Rooney's reading does not cancel out the state of the team. United conceded after 1 minute, lost Yoro to a red card in the 74th minute and were 2-0 down five minutes later. Their only other victory this season, outside the win over Sabah FK on 10 September, came against Ipswich at Old Trafford.

So Martinez may have chosen a risky way to say it, and Rooney is right to question the optics. The bigger issue is that the substance is hard to dismiss. United look short of level, short of control and short of momentum.

They now leave Madrid with another defeat, another disciplinary problem after Yoro's dismissal and a very public reminder from one of their senior defenders that the argument at M. Carrick's club is no longer just about what happens on the touchline.

FAQ

Why did Lisandro Martinez criticise Manchester United after the loss to Atletico Madrid?

Martinez said United should expect more from the people upstairs after last season's progress. Speaking after the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid, he called for more players, more competition in the squad and more investment, while also saying the current group still had to prove something.

Did Lisandro Martinez ask for Jason Wilcox to be sacked at Manchester United?

No public quote in this case shows Martinez explicitly calling for Jason Wilcox to be sacked. His criticism was aimed at the hierarchy and the need for more investment and a stronger squad. Some reaction has treated it as a direct attack, but the wording available goes short of a sack demand.

Did Lisandro Martinez blame Michael Carrick for Manchester United's defeat?

Not directly. Martinez said he did not think the manager was the main issue and added that Carrick does his best. His broader point was that teams learn your details from one season to the next, so United have to change and improve rather than rely on last season's base.

How bad is Manchester United's run after the Atletico Madrid defeat?

The loss left United winless in five matches across all competitions. They also sit 13th in the Premier League with 6 points from 6 games, which adds weight to the frustration around the squad and the club's start to the season.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →