Lisandro Martinez says anger and frustration drove Manchester United criticism

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez said on Wednesday, 14 October, that anger and frustration drove his criticism of the club after Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid. BBC Sport reported that he reaffirmed his belief in his teammates and manager Michael Carrick, while saying the players must take responsibility for improving results.

Martinez said the defeat was not the result United wanted and that his earlier words reflected how strongly he wants the club to compete for major honours, according to BBC Sport. The outlet reported that he stopped short of apologizing for the criticism. He said improvement starts with him and that the players need to demand more of themselves and work together.

What Martinez said after the Atletico Madrid defeat

The National reported that Martinez’s initial remarks followed Tuesday’s loss to Atletico Madrid. He said he expected greater investment and more from technical director Jason Wilcox. His follow-up statement, as reported by BBC Sport, also expressed belief in others working to move United forward. That leaves his call for more from the club’s leadership alongside an explicit commitment to his manager and fellow players.

Atletico took the lead through Pablo Barrios inside the opening minute, The National reported. United defender Leny Yoro was sent off shortly before Ademola Lookman scored Atletico’s second goal in the 79th minute. The loss came during United’s return to the Champions League after a two-season absence; The National reported that they had begun the campaign with a 4-0 win over Sabah FK.

Pressure on Manchester United after the loss

Former United player Wayne Rooney said Martinez’s earlier comments were disrespectful to teammates and would not help, according to The National. BBC Sport reported that United had won two of nine games that season and were 13th in the Premier League with six points from six matches. Those results give context to Martinez’s demand that players hold themselves to a higher standard.

Martinez’s contract is due to expire at the end of the season, with United holding an option to extend it by one year, BBC Sport reported. United’s next scheduled match is away to Leeds United on Sunday, 18 October.