Argentina defender, Lisandro Martínez, has criticised Manchester United’s hierarchy for failing to strengthen the squad adequately during the summer transfer window following their 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The defeat was United’s third in five games against Diego Simeone’s side, while manager Michael Carrick has managed just one victory in his last seven matches, increasing the pressure on him.
However, Martínez believes the club’s leadership should bear responsibility for the team’s struggles, arguing that insufficient investment has left the squad short of the quality required to compete at the highest level.
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the match in Madrid, the defender expressed his frustration with the club’s recruitment decisions.
“Really poor. Really poor,” Martínez said. “I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.
“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.
“Atlético have an amazing team and they deserve to win today.
“But I expect more [investment]. 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more, but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”
United reportedly spent £150m on new signings during the summer, a figure significantly lower than the expenditure of their Premier League rivals.
The Argentina international also defended Carrick, questioning the club’s tendency to change managers rather than address other areas he believes require improvement.
“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager,” Martínez said. “What about other areas? [looks up] I can’t say more.
“Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas [points up].
“He [Carrick] does his best. Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season.
“The teams knows how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season is a big problem.
“Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team.
“It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here.”
Carrick, however, declined to comment directly on his defender’s criticism, saying he had not watched the interview.
“I haven’t seen it. After a game like this you come here to try and get something from the game and you are disappointed and can be emotional,” he said.
“I have not seen it so I don’t think it is the right time.
“We all care and show that in different ways but now is the time to be together and work through.
“As a group, I don’t doubt the togetherness or their wanting to win. Looking at the results, you could be saying its deeply wrong, but that’s not been the case.
“The players have been great, results haven’t, and they were desperate to get something out of the game.”
