Lisandro Martinez stands by Man Utd criticism as he explains overnight statement

Lisandro Martinez has stood by the concerns behind his criticism of Manchester United’s hierarchy, while accepting that the players must take responsibility for improving results.

The defender issued a statement on Instagram on Wednesday night, following his criticism of United’s recruitment after the defeat at Atletico Madrid.

Martinez had questioned the backing provided by the club’s leadership and singled out director of football Jason Wilcox after Tuesday’s 2–0 Champions League loss.

What did Lisandro Martinez say?

Martinez explained that his post-match comments came from frustration, but maintained that they reflected his desire for United to challenge for major trophies.

“My words reflect how I feel and how much I want to see this club competing for the biggest honours,” he wrote in the statement reported by Reuters.

He also accepted personal responsibility for performances and expressed confidence in his team-mates and manager Michael Carrick.

The statement did not include an apology. It followed Wayne Rooney’s criticism of the original interview, with the former United captain arguing that recruitment concerns should have been raised privately.

Has Manchester United decided on disciplinary action?

Sky Sports reported on Thursday morning that United had yet to decide whether to discipline Martinez. The broadcaster also reported that Wilcox was under no internal pressure over his position.

United’s defeat in Madrid extended their winless run to five matches across all competitions.

Their next opportunity to respond comes away to Leeds on Sunday 18 October, with kick-off at 2pm BST. The Premier League fixture schedule lists the match for live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event.