Manchester United players upset at Lisandro Martinez

Manchester United’s defensive problems have become increasingly difficult to ignore as Michael Carrick attempts to steady the team during a disappointing start to the season.

The club’s recruitment strategy is now under scrutiny, with questions being raised about whether enough was done to prepare the squad for the demands of competing in England and Europe.

United invested heavily in midfield during the summer, but other positions remain short of experienced alternatives.

The centre-back department, in particular, has a mixture of young prospects, injury concerns and players whose long-term futures are uncertain.

Their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid only intensified those concerns, with Leny Yoro sent off and the team struggling to recover from an early setback.

Lisandro Martinez’s public criticism of the club’s leadership has created another problem for Carrick to manage.

Manchester United players upset at Lisandro Martinez

Sky Sports News reports that at least one Manchester United player challenged Lisandro Martinez over his remarks as the squad boarded their flight back to Manchester, with the defender’s comments reportedly causing anger and bewilderment among some team-mates as well as people in the boardroom.

The suggestion that United’s squad lacks the quality required to compete at the highest level has reportedly not gone down well with everyone in the dressing room.

Martinez made his feelings clear after the defeat in Madrid, arguing that the club’s leadership needed to take greater responsibility for the team’s situation.

He specifically called out director of football Jason Wilcox, saying, “I expect more from our technical director.”

He also argued that United needed more players to compete with their rivals, while acknowledging that the current squad had to improve its own performances.

The Argentine’s comments have reopened the debate about United’s summer business.

The club signed Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba to strengthen midfield, but did not bring in a new senior centre-back or a specialist left-back.

Luke Shaw’s injury problems and the absences affecting other defenders have exposed the lack of depth.

Martinez’s own future is also becoming a major talking point.

He joined United from Ajax in 2022 and quickly became a fan favourite for his aggressive defending and commitment, but his availability has been affected by injuries.

His current contract expires next summer, although United hold an option to extend it by another year.

United’s central defensive options currently include Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Yoro and Ayden Heaven.

That group offers a mix of experience and youth, but injuries, Maguire’s managed workload and the development still required by the younger defenders make the position a priority for future recruitment.