Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has publicly criticised the club's hierarchy following its Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, according to Sky Sports.
The Argentina international said he expects more from the people running the club, and argued that responsibility for the result lies with the board rather than with manager Michael Carrick, as reported by ESPN.
Martinez's comments were described by Sky Sports as an extraordinary call-out of United's leadership. The Guardian reported that he said he expects more, while the Independent characterised his remarks as a frank assessment of the club's hierarchy.
The reaction to the defender's intervention became a talking point in its own right. BBC coverage asked whether Martinez had gone "too far" with his criticism of the United hierarchy, signalling that his words have prompted debate beyond the match itself.
Martinez's decision to speak so directly is unusual for a current player, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a European defeat. His remarks shift attention away from the team's performance on the night and towards the club's decision-makers, a framing echoed in ESPN's assessment that the blame lies with the top brass rather than Carrick.
What United's hierarchy says in response, and whether the club addresses Martinez's criticism internally, is the next thing to watch.
