Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martínez has criticised the club’s technical director after Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid.
He questioned the club’s summer investment and argued that the squad lacks Champions League quality.
The 28-year-old Argentine admitted he struggled to contain his frustration as he assessed the team’s display. His comments land at a sensitive time for United, who lost for the first time in this season’s competition and now face growing questions about the direction of the club.
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“I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest,” Martínez said.
He called the performance “poor, really poor”, then linked it to the club’s wider state.
“The performance was poor, really poor. I have to control myself. It mirrors our club currently. I expected more investment in the summer. I have to be honest.”
Martínez defends Carrick
Martínez defended head coach Michael Carrick when reporters asked whether the club had backed him properly. He shifted the blame away from the dugout and toward those above it.
“I don’t think so. He did his best.
If you don’t change, next season it’s a big problem.
You keep changing managers but what about other areas? It’s easy to say the coach, the players, but also we have to see others, huh?”
He then urged the club’s decision-makers to strengthen the squad, pointing out that rival teams have spent heavily.
“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.
This is not a Champions League quality squad. I think the players can do more, but it’s also important to build a strong squad to be ready for these kinds of nights.”
How the night unfolded
Atlético struck almost immediately. Pablo Barrios finished Álex Baena’s cross after just 47 seconds, and the hosts never surrendered the lead. Ademola Lookman later added a second goal and handed United their first defeat of this season’s Champions League campaign.
United responded well to the early setback. Bryan Mbeumo twice went close, and Bruno Fernandes also threatened. Jan Oblak produced excellent saves to deny both players, and Fernandes later watched a powerful effort crash against the crossbar. United also thought they had equalised just before half-time, but VAR ruled the goal out for a foul.
The game turned late on. Leny Yoro received a red card for bringing down the advancing Lookman, and United had to play the final 15 minutes with ten men. Lookman then punished them by following up after a save to make it 2-0. Oblak made one more key stop in stoppage time to deny Matheus Cunha and complete the win.
Defensive concerns continue
The defeat highlighted a recurring problem. United have kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 European matches. The result also moved Atlético from 26th to 13th in the league-phase standings, while United dropped to seventh with three points from two games.
Carrick must now refocus his players quickly. United travel to Elland Road on Sunday to face Leeds United in the Premier League. Their next Champions League test follows next week, when they visit Italian side Como.
