The Manchester United squad is off today, after losing 2-0 at Atletico Madrid, in the UEFA Champions League yesterday. They’ll resume training tomorrow (Thursday) ahead of Sunday’s Roses Rivalry against Leeds United. If the club are to punish central defender Lisandro Martinez, and they almost certainly the will, it won’t be enacted until Thursday. And that is advantageous for the club, as it gives them an extra day to figure out what they want to do about the outspoken Argentine international.
Lisandro Martinez one of multiple players unhappy with Manchester United business over the summer. Comments not just made in the heat of the moment, and backed up by others in the dressing room, as @alex_crook reported earlier on @talkSPORT.
Players off today, and Manchester United yet to decide whether to fine Martinez.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) October 14, 2026
In the wake of losing at Atletico last night, Martinez brutally ripped the club’s hierarchy, and included remarks that were obviously directed at Sporting Director Jason Wilcox.
“Really poor. Really poor,” Martinez said to Amazon Prime in postgame at the Metropolitano. “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.”
While he was just letting it rip, and hitting out at a wide array of people, he at least took ownership of his own performances, and included himself as part of the problem. “Lucha” just seems to be saying what most United supporters are thinking, but he’s probably not the best messenger for this specific message.
His recent United career has been extremely injury prone, and his actions have often made it clear that he prioritizes the Argentina national team above MUFC.
Still there are reports circulating today that plenty of his teammates pretty much agree with him.
United have only two wins from nine matches across all competitions this season. They currently sit just 13th in the table, and the pressure is quickly mounting on manager Michael Carrick. Martinez was then asked about his manager already being on the hot seat, just a couple months into his first full season in charge.
“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager,” he responded. “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.”
Martinez would not have made this remarks unless he already knew that many, if not most, of his teammates agree with him. That said, he did include his teammates among the group of people that he called out. So that is likely to not sit well with them.
And after these fiery remarks, which are going viral all over the world right now, Martinez spoke to another media member, CBS Sports’ Peter Schmeichel, and he maintained the same stance that he had when talking to Amazon Prime.
“We have many games, we have to rotate players, and for me we don’t have the best squad compared to other top teams. As a club, I expect more. I’m not gonna close my mouth; we need to have more ambition.”
“As a club, I expect more… I’m not gonna close my mouth, we need to have more ambition.” 👀
Lisandro Martínez opens up to @pschmeichel1 about Manchester United’s struggles 👇 https://t.co/mJsHg9pk9Z
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 13, 2026
“I try to be positive and try to be honest. We have to change and do more because I think we are capable of being better. We have the players.”
So his remarks were much more than just a one-off, or a “heat of the moment” kind of thing. He had an agenda, and his contract expires at the end of the season. He has a club option, but it’s safe to say that it won’t be exercised.
Martinez continued doubling down: “But also, when you watch the games on television, you see the players and the manager and you point the finger, which is right, we take the responsibility. But also, as a club, I expect more, you know? I expect more. I’m not going to close my mouth.”
“We need more ambition. We need to talk more about winning the Champions League and winning the Premier League. If we don’t say the truth, nothing will change.”
Again, everything he said may indeed be right, but we’re not sure if the public airing of grievances is going to make anything better. United did spend £155 million in adding new players this summer, but that was far less money than some of their rivals, and those rivals seems to be more serious about contending for major trophies than Old Trafford seem to be.
Also, they only upgraded one position group, the midfield.
And last summer, they also only did one position group, the attack. This is a very questionable approach, to say the least, and it has been (deservedly) widely criticized.
That said, according to reports, the INEOS leadership has no plans to sack Wilcox any time soon. So they will likely back Wilcox and punish Lisandro Martinez, but how? Will they have Carrick bench him?
Will they suspend him?
Will they issue a statement in response to his remarks? Will they try to move up his exit, and sell him in the winter window?
Watch this space.
Paul M. Banks is the Founding Editor of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He currently contributes to USA Today’s NFL Wires Network, Ratings and RG. His past bylines include the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, Forbes and the Washington Post.