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Manchester United: Lisandro Martínez apologises and meets the hierarchy after his outburst
Met by the hierarchy two days after his outburst at the club’s recruitment, Lisandro Martínez apologised; a fine was imposed according to Sky Sports. The club consider the incident closed, three days before the trip to Leeds.
by Lucas Morel · 2 min read
On Tuesday night United lost 2-0 at Atlético Madrid in the Champions League: Pablo Barrios scored after 53 seconds, Ademola Lookman added the second and Leny Yoro was sent off. Speaking on Amazon Prime, Lisandro Martínez then turned on technical director Jason Wilcox: “I expect more from our technical director. You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas?”
His anger is about the summer: three major signings (Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba), nothing for the left flank, where Luke Shaw, the only player in the position, is injured. Thirteenth on six points from six games, United are off to their worst league start in 40 years.
A critique the dressing room shares
The Guardian described the next day a wider frustration: the dressing room agrees with his reading of a squad stretched too thin, even if at least one teammate challenged Martínez to name who was not up to it. Foot Mercato reported criticism “also shared by several dressing-room leaders”. Michael Carrick brushed it off: “I haven’t seen the interview… I think it’s a little bit the emotions of the game [talking].”
Apology, fine, incident closed
That night the defender posted an Instagram story to calm things down, then a statement on Wednesday evening. On Thursday at Carrington he met chief executive Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox and Michael Carrick: “It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange points of view and talk openly about what happened”, he said, admitting he had spoken “at a moment and in a place that were perhaps not the most appropriate”. According to Sky Sports the club added a fine, the amount undisclosed, and RMC Sport reports United consider the matter closed. His contract is the open question: Martínez is in its final year, and The Athletic reports the club hesitate over the one-year option.
The odds have drifted against United
United travel to Elland Road on Sunday, to the team sitting seventh. The price on an away win has drifted from 2.85 to 3.01 across the bookmakers we track, with Leeds in at 2.44. I broke down the match and the squad in the preview. 18+. Only bet what you can afford to lose.