Manchester United’s manager, Michael Carrick, has declared that the club has put behind them the recent public comments made by defender Lisandro Martinez. Martinez had expressed his dissatisfaction with the club’s leadership regarding transfer dealings, but Carrick asserts that this matter is no longer a concern for the team. The incident, which saw Martinez speak out after a Champions League loss, has been dealt with, and the team is now focused on its upcoming challenges, including a crucial league match.
The controversy began earlier this week following Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. After the match, Argentina international Lisandro Martinez openly criticized the club's hierarchy, specifically technical director Jason Wilcox, for what he perceived as insufficient investment in the squad during the summer transfer window. He stated that he had "100 percent" expected greater financial backing after the team's third-place finish in the Premier League the previous season.
Martinez’s comments led to an internal fine from the club. However, Carrick confirmed during a press conference on Friday that Martinez would still be included in the squad for Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Leeds. Carrick stressed that the team has collectively moved past the incident, emphasizing that it is "really not a drama for us as a group" and that a positive atmosphere prevails in training.
Following his initial remarks, Martinez, a 28-year-old center-back, issued an apology on Thursday. In an Instagram post, he explained his actions, stating, "Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity." He admitted that the frustration from their recent defeat prompted him to speak out at an inappropriate time and venue, for which he apologized. He also confirmed having productive discussions with both the club's management and Carrick.
The situation attracted external commentary, with former United captain Roy Keane describing the club’s predicament as "a bit of a circus." This comes as Manchester United faces a challenging period, having secured only two victories from nine competitive matches this season. They currently sit 13th in the Premier League, with a single win from six league games, and recently drew 1-1 against a Tottenham side that played with ten men.
The club has processed and resolved the recent public statement from Lisandro Martinez, focusing on maintaining team cohesion. Despite the incident and ongoing struggles in their current season, the team is set to move forward with full player inclusion, looking to improve their performance in upcoming games.