Martinez demands funding from United after League duel vs Atlético Madrid

Lisandro Martinez, the 28‑year‑old Argentinian defender of Manchester United, sharply criticised the board of the English club after the 2‑0 defeat in the Champions League tie against Atlético Madrid. In an interview on Amazon Prime he said that the club had not invested enough during the transfer window, while he and his teammates do not want to bear the blame alone. Martinez emphasised that “you can’t keep changing managers” and that there must also be attention for other departments within the organisation.

Critics of the technical director

The defender specifically targeted technical director Jason Wilcox and demanded more investment, expecting “100 %” from the club’s leadership. He said: “I expect more from our technical director” and added that the lack of new players is a major problem for the upcoming season. Martinez stated that United had a fantastic season last season, but now needs more players to compete with other teams that are making many new signings.

Financial context

According to the available figures, Manchester United has spent only £150 million on new players, an amount that is considerably lower than that of their Big‑Six rivals. This limited spending comes at a time when manager Michael Carrick has won only one of his last seven matches, increasing the pressure on the former midfielder. Martinez indicated that the club has “laid a great foundation” but that more must now be done to maintain the quality of the team.

Martinez slams Manchester United hierarchy after Champions League loss

Personal responsibility

Although Martinez calls out the board, he also places part of the responsibility on the players themselves. He stated: “As players we must do more, but it is also important that you, if you have a strong team, are ready for evenings like this.” He warned that persisting with the same approach could become a “big problem” for the next season. Martinez concluded that it is easy to blame the coach or the players, but that one must also look at other aspects.

The Argentinian defender also stressed that Atlético Madrid have a “great team” and that their victory was deserved. He described the evening as “annoying” and “disappointing” because he did not see United achieve an impressive result. Martinez’s comments underline the growing discontent within the club and the call for a more aggressive transfer strategy.

Martinez blames United hierarchy for lack of investment after Atletico loss