Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has maintained his criticism of the club’s leadership following their 2-0 Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The Argentina international issued a statement on social media reiterating his frustration over the club’s transfer activities and questioning the recruitment strategy under director of football Jason Wilcox.

Martínez expressed regret over the timing of his comments but did not retract the substance of his criticism. “After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted,” he wrote. He emphasized his passion for the club and desire to see Manchester United compete for major honours. “Those who know me know how I live football, with passion, commitment and a huge desire to win,” he added.

The defender underlined that the responsibility for improvement also lies with the players themselves. “I know that, first and foremost, it’s us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility,” Martínez said. He called for increased effort and unity among the squad to restore the club’s status at the top of the game.

The comments came amid mounting pressure on the team and head coach Michael Carrick, as Manchester United are currently enduring a five-match winless streak across all competitions. This run has intensified scrutiny given the club’s return to the Champions League after a two-year absence.

Following Martínez’s post-match remarks, discussions took place involving Carrick and Wilcox aimed at addressing the situation and clarifying the issues raised. While the club has not issued a public statement regarding Martínez’s criticism, reports indicate that Jason Wilcox retains the support of Manchester United’s leadership.

Martínez concluded his statement with a message of belief in the collective efforts of his teammates, coaching staff, and club officials. “I believe in my teammates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward,” he said, advocating for continued ambition and commitment as the way forward for Manchester United. The club has not publicly commented beyond the internal talks, and enquiries sent for official response have not been answered.