Martinez issues scathing attack on Man Utd board - has he made things worse?

What the report says

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy after a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid, arguing that the squad needed more investment following qualification for the Champions League. The comments, reported by BBC Sport and republished by Nile Post, came amid a difficult spell for United, who have now gone five matches without a win and have managed only two victories in nine games this season, according to the source material.

Martinez, who joined United from Ajax in 2022, said the club should have strengthened more to build on last season’s progress. He pointed to the need for greater competition in the squad and suggested responsibility should not fall only on the coach or players. The article says his remarks have renewed scrutiny on recruitment decisions involving football director Jason Wilcox, chief executive Omar Berrada and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The report also notes that United spent heavily in the summer but not across all positions, with criticism focused on the lack of attacking cover and left-back competition. Former United figures Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young said Martinez may have gone too far, warning that such comments could unsettle the dressing room. Manager Michael Carrick, as named in the article, said he had not yet seen the interview in full and would speak to Martinez after getting more details.

More broadly, the piece places the episode in the context of continued pressure on United’s leadership, frequent managerial changes, and debate over whether the club’s problems stem more from recruitment than coaching.