Lisandro Martinez called out Manchester United’s lack of ambition as the defender doubled down on his withering criticism of the hierarchy in interviews that shocked the club and team-mates.
The player nicknamed ‘the butcher’ wielded a cleaver during a stunning tirade after Michael Carrick’s 10 men fell to a 2-0 loss at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Martinez hit out at director of football Jason Wilcox and the United board in a caustic interview with Prime Video that raised eyebrows in the dressing room as well as the wider footballing world.
Sky Sports reported that the Argentina international was challenged over his comments by at least one player on the flight back from Spain, but his views are said to be shared by some frustrated team-mates.
Lisandro Martínez did NOT hold back after United's loss to Atletico 😬👀 pic.twitter.com/OGo25Pzd30
— Prime Video Sport UK (@primevideosport) October 13, 2026
United have kept tight-lipped since the blockbuster remarks that leave Martinez facing possible internal sanctions and an uncertain future, with the defender reiterating his stance when speaking to Peter Schmeichel.
“We are trying to be positive and trying to be honest,” Martinez told CBS. “We have to change, we have to do more because I think we are capable to do better.
“We have the players and, yeah, we expect but also, for sure, when you watch the television and you watch the games, 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.
“I expect more. We need more and we need more ambition. We need to talk more about winning the Champions League, to talk about winning the Premier League in terms of other things.”
When Schmeichel pointed out that it is only October, the frustrated United defender said: “Yeah, but every season we are talking the same thing.”
After the 1999 treble winner interjected to say that clubs do not win or lose anything at this stage of a campaign, Martinez said: “No, no for sure. For sure. But if we don’t say the truth, nothing will change.”
United’s players are due back at Carrington on Thursday following a day off and under-fire Carrick is due to speak to the media on Friday to preview the trip to rivals Leeds.
Martinez’s comments are sure to dominate the press conference looking ahead to Sunday’s Elland Road encounter, even if the club communicate an update about him before then.
The 28-year-old, whose Old Trafford deal runs until 2027 with the option of a further year, was guilty of allowing Dominic Solanke to score a late leveller in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham.
Three days on he was part of the side defeated 2-0 by Atleti, extending United’s winless to a fifth match in all competitions.
Michael gives his assessment of Tuesday's game 💬
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 13, 2026
“I think the belief, the energy (are issues),” Martinez said. “We are not playing well as a team. You can see the disconnection.
“We can’t do sometimes three, four passes together and the body language. We miss some chances and we are negative.
“And, yeah, when you play against these teams, especially in Champions League, you can’t miss (the) opportunity and you can’t concede in the first minute the goal we concede and, yeah, that’s it.”
Asked if the disconnect he mentioned is down to a lack of confidence, fitness or understanding, the United defender said: “Yeah, for sure the confidence and also the rotation in the team, you know.
“Because we have many, many games and you have to rotate players and, for me, we don’t have the best squad at the moment compared with other top teams.”
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