Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has called for calm within the club following Lisandro Martinez’s criticism of the team’s leadership, insisting that his immediate priority is to restore focus ahead of their next fixture.
Martinez had questioned the club’s recruitment strategy after United’s defeat to Atletico Madrid, arguing that director of football Jason Wilcox and other senior officials had failed to provide sufficient investment to strengthen the squad during the summer transfer window.
The Argentine defender also defended Carrick, maintaining that the manager should not bear the blame for the team’s disappointing performances because he had not received adequate backing from the club’s hierarchy.
However, Carrick, speaking after the controversy emerged, declined to comment extensively on Martinez’s remarks, explaining that he had yet to watch the interview and needed to understand the full context before deciding whether to address the matter with the defender.
“I need to find out a bit more about it before I can say if and what is going to be done. I really can’t comment any further because I haven’t seen it,” Carrick said.
The United manager suggested that the defender’s comments might have been influenced by the emotions surrounding the defeat, adding that post-match disappointment was not the appropriate moment to engage in a detailed discussion about the club’s internal affairs.
“I think it’s a little bit on the emotions of the game as well,” he said, acknowledging the frustration of leaving the match without a positive result.
The controversy has intensified scrutiny of United’s recruitment decisions and the responsibilities of the club’s senior football officials, particularly as the team continues to struggle for consistency.
Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada reportedly oversaw £155 million in summer spending on first-team reinforcements, including goalkeeper Karl Darlow and midfielders Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans.
Despite the investment, Martinez believes the club did not do enough to build on the team’s achievements last season, raising questions about whether the recruitment strategy has adequately addressed United’s weaknesses.
United’s poor start to the campaign has added to the pressure, with the club recording just two victories in nine matches across all competitions.
Nevertheless, Carrick insisted that the team remained united despite the disappointing results and growing criticism surrounding their performances.
He said he had no doubts about the players’ commitment, togetherness or determination to turn the situation around, adding that the squad was equally frustrated by the team’s inability to secure more victories.
“I don’t doubt the togetherness or the wanting to win or the willingness to do things to win. I really don’t doubt that,” Carrick stated.
The manager acknowledged that the team’s results could create the impression that deeper problems existed within the squad but maintained that the players remained committed to improving their performances.
With another important fixture against a major opponent scheduled for Sunday, Carrick urged his players to move beyond the controversy and concentrate on their immediate responsibilities.
“There is a big game on Sunday, and it’s really important that we move forward and we stay focused on that,” he said.
While Carrick has avoided taking sides in the dispute, Martinez’s comments have brought renewed attention to the relationship between United’s playing squad and its leadership, with questions lingering over whether the club’s recruitment policy can provide the foundation needed for a successful season.
