Man Utd defender Martinez attacks Red Devils board

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has launched a blistering attack on the club's hierarchy for not strengthening the squad following qualification for the Champions League

Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid means United have now gone five games without a win. Their most recent victory was against Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on 10 September. United's only other win in nine matches this season came against newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford, when they had to come from behind.

The Red Devils finished third in the Premier League last term to seal a Champions League return for the first time in three years. They won 12 of Michael Carrick's 17 games in interim charge following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim in January, which was enough to earn the former United midfielder a permanent two-year contract as head coach.

"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. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserved to win today," Martinez told Amazon Prime Video.

"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. Tonight it is easy to [blame] the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas."

Martinez's view has been echoed by many external observers and has also been mentioned by some inside Old Trafford. The failure to bring in striking support for Benjamin Sesko and competition at left-back for Luke Shaw have both been highlighted in a summer when United spent £155m on three midfielders to the exclusion of any other position.

Minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe was sitting next to United chief executive Omar Berrada in the Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday. They have sacked managers in the past two seasons after backing them the previous summer, with Erik ten Hag dismissed in October 2024, before Amorim was shown the exit door in January 2026.

"You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager," said Martinez. "What about other areas? I can't say more. Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team."

Martinez's comments echo similar ones made by his Argentina defensive partner Cristian Romero against the Tottenham board last season. Ironically, Romero was in Atletico's side against United after his summer move to Spain.

Martinez, meanwhile, has one year left on his United contract and has yet to agree an extension.