Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has apologised for his comments after the defeat to Atletico Madrid, following a meeting with Michael Carrick and the club’s leadership team at Carrington.
After United lost to Atletico in the Champions League on Tuesday night, Martinez criticised the club’s decision-makers, saying he “expected more” investment in the squad over the summer. He also singled out Jason Wilcox, who is responsible for recruitment, and said he expected more from the club’s technical director.
Clear-the-air meeting
Martinez was one of the last players to report to Carrington on Thursday. A meeting was held to clear the air after training. United sources have said any internal disciplinary action will remain private, but it is thought Martinez has been fined over his comments.
Martinez then released a statement on Instagram. United sources said the decision to apologise was his own, and that all parties now consider the episode closed.
In the statement, Martinez said: “Today I met with the club’s leadership and the manager. It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s game.
“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity. The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.
“Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognise that my words in that moment did not help with that. I know that every single person at Manchester United is doing everything possible to achieve our shared ambition: bringing the success that this club and its supporters deserve. With this situation now behind us, we are fully focused on winning together.”
Post-match comments
Martinez was furious when he spoke to Amazon Prime after the game. “I have to control myself a lot,” he said. “But sometimes it’s a reflection of how our club is at the moment, you know?
“We did a fantastic season last season, and now we expect more from the top, from above, you know, to bring more players to compete, because many, many teams bring many players in as well. Today also, Atletico have an amazing team, and they deserved to win today.”
Asked whether United had a Champions League quality squad, he replied: “I expected more, honestly. I expected more.”
When pressed on whether he meant investment over the summer, Martinez said: “Yeah, 100 per cent. I expected more from our technical director. I have to be honest, you know? And also, as players, we have to do more, but it’s also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for these kinds of nights.”
On which areas needed strengthening, he said: “In general. I think last season we did everything; we created a base to build an amazing team. But this is something to be honest and to prove something, you know?
“Yeah, it’s annoying, disappointing, to come here and not see my team trying to get an amazing result here. It’s disappointing.”
Dressing room reaction
Some players reportedly agree with Martinez’s comments, while others disagree with the way he made them. It has also been claimed that at least one senior player confronted him about the interview on the team’s return trip to Manchester.
Martinez is out of contract at the end of the season, but United have the option to extend his deal by 12 months.