Martinez
Lisandro Martínez has apologised following a meeting with Michael Carrick and Manchester United’s leadership, days after publicly criticising the club’s recruitment strategy following their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid.
The Argentine defender had questioned director of football Jason Wilcox and argued that changing managers alone would not solve United’s problems. His comments drew criticism, including from former United striker Wayne Rooney, who felt Martínez should not have taken his grievances public.
In a statement on Wednesday, Martínez explained that frustration over the defeat had influenced his remarks but initially stopped short of apologising.
That changed after his meeting with Carrick and club officials on Thursday, when he acknowledged that he had chosen the wrong time and place to air his concerns.
“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity,” Martínez said. “The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”
He also admitted that his comments had not helped the team.
“Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognise that my words in that moment did not help with that,” he said, adding that everyone at United remained focused on winning together.
The apology may settle the immediate tension, but the questions Martínez raised about recruitment and the team’s struggles remain. United will ultimately have to answer them through their performances on the pitch.
