Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez don talk say e ‘spoke out of anger and frustration’ after e launch strong attack on the club hierarchy. The Argentina international criticise Manchester United say dem no strengthen squad in summer after dem qualify for Champions League. E make the comments after the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid for Champions League group phase on Tuesday.
Martinez talk say e expect more investment inside Manchester United squad and ‘more from our technical director Jason Wilcox’. But e no apologise, e talk say e still get ‘belief in my team-mates, our manager Michael Carrick and everyone working to help this club move forward’.
For social media post, e write say: ‘After the match, I spoke out of anger and frustration at not getting the result we all wanted.’ E add say: ‘Those who know me know how I live football, with passion, commitment and a huge desire to win.’ E talk say when things no go their way, e dey pain, especially when representing club with history and stature of Manchester United.
E talk say: ‘My words reflect how I feel and how much I want to see this club competing for the biggest honours.’ E yan say high standards na part of how e see football and responsibility wey come with wearing the shirt. ‘When I talk about wanting more, I’m talking about the ambition we must all have as part of this club,’ e talk. ‘To keep growing, to become stronger and to have everything we need to compete at the highest level.’
Manchester United never win in five games since dem beat Sabah for Champions League on 10 September. Dem win just two of nine games this season and dem dey 13th for Premier League with six points from as many games. Martinez contract expire at end of season and Manchester United get option to extend am by another year.
E add say: ‘I know that, first and foremost, it’s us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility.’ E talk say dem need to demand even more from themselves and work together to take Manchester United back to top. ‘I believe in my teammates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward.’
E talk say: ‘I’m convinced that the way forward is to keep working together, with ambition and commitment.’ E talk say e goal from day one na to win, compete at highest level and give everything for the badge. Manchester United next game go be away to Leeds United for Premier League on Sunday, 18 October.
Sky Sports News report say Lisandro Martinez future for Manchester United don dey called into question following the extraordinary criticism of club bosses, and real doubts dey whether the Argentine defender contract go dey extended when e expire in summer. Manchester United go focus on revamping defence in next transfer windows and dem get formal option to prolong Martinez stay for one more year.
Sky Sports News also hear say Manchester United dey look at new centre-backs, as well as left-backs. Club bosses never decide whether to discipline Martinez for him comments, when e talk say: ‘I expect more from our technical director. We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete.’
Sky Sports News hear say anger and bemusement dey inside Manchester United boardroom and changing room at wetin Martinez talk, with at least one other player challenge am over the comments as squad dey board plane to fly back to Manchester. Dem also understand say no pressure dey on Wilcox internally about him position. The implication say Martinez no think say him team-mates good enough to compete no go down well with other players.
Martinez don dey keen on a move away from Old Trafford for some time. In summer, e push for move to Atletico Madrid, the side wey beat Manchester United for Champions League last night, to follow him good friend and international team-mate Cristian Romero, who leave Spurs for Spain. No suitable bid for Martinez come in for Manchester United to consider. The 28-year-old make similar explosive comments about him bosses when e dey Ajax in 2022. Martinez, who again want move away, call their sporting director Gerry Hamstra a ‘nobody’.
Martinez remain key part of Michael Carrick squad and Manchester United bosses know say dem get to handle this situation carefully. If rift grow, e fit cause serious problems for Manchester United defence, which injury and suspension already dey affect. Ayden Heaven start out of position at left-back against Atletico. Leny Yoro, who dem send off for Metropolitano Stadium, go face one-game European ban, and 33-year-old Harry Maguire game-time dey managed to avoid overloading. Luke Shaw dey out injured with non-specified return date, and him other options for the role, Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui, also absent with fitness issues.
Sky Sports News Rob Dorsett talk say Manchester United no be the powerhouse of world football wey dem once be. Yes, dem make record revenues of £678m, but still make pre-tax loss of £47m and dem dey pay interest on loans of £70m. We know say dem get huge debts to Glazers. Dem no get huge amounts to spend like Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea, for example.
Dorsett talk say dem come up with very specific transfer strategy. Two summers ago na frontline, this summer na midfield because only Kobbie Mainoo remain as their one senior midfielder when Casemiro leave. The three midfielders wey dem bring in all start last night. £156m spend on them, and dem all integral to Manchester United going forward. For next transfer window, dem go focus on defence. But plenty fans dey ask how dem go get through this season with Luke Shaw as their only senior left-back.
Dorsett talk say na fair argument. Manchester United go come back say dem no go spend money on stopgap when dem go sign new left-back in summer, because dem go remain with players on big wages wey no go play. Dem no fit afford Myles Lewis-Skelly or Lewis Hall, who be their real targets for that position. Jarring dey at the moment between Manchester United financial reality and their strategy going forward. Dem no go listen to noise from supporters, but e no change fact say dem dey quite understandably frustrated say some rivals dey go out and spend big when dem just no fit do that right now.
Sky Sports Paul Merson talk say first of all you have to get good defence. If you no solid for defence, everything go fall apart. You no dey build house on puddle and na same for football team. E talk say e like Carlos Baleba from Brighton, but e young. Youri Tielemans, e be fan. But e talk say e shock by Andrey Santos signing. E talk say e be big Chelsea fan, and e no see anything last season to point where Manchester United sign am and e go say: ‘What a signing.’
Merson talk say e sad say Manchester United no fit afford these players. Dem be one of biggest clubs for world football and dem no able to afford Myles Lewis-Skelly or Lewis Hall. E talk say e quite sad where Manchester United don reach now from where dem dey 20 years ago, when dem be one of greatest teams wey we don see. E talk say dem no suppose dey there. Dem probably sell more shirts than anybody else. Their club shop just as big as Selfridges. If you go anywhere for world, people dey wear Manchester United shirts.
Merson add say other teams dey buy one player for amount wey Manchester United dey buy three midfield players. E talk say we all know say more money you spend on player, more often than not dem go be better player. Manchester United dey that ‘looking for deals’ situation. Dem be the Arthur Daley of top teams at the moment. Dem dey wheeling and dealing and other teams dey buy already-made product. Manchester United dey buy players wey might be good.
