Lisandro Martinez apologises for post-match outburst against Man Utd hierarchy

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has apologised for his explosive post-match comments following Tuesday’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid after meeting with manager Michael Carrick.

Martinez held “positive” talks with Carrick and club chiefs after training on Thursday regarding his remarks, which saw him accuse the club of lacking ambition and question their summer recruitment.

The Argentina international admitted his interview “did not help” with keeping the club united and said he is “fully focused on winning together”.

He said in a statement on Instagram: “Today I met with the club’s leadership and the manager.

“It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday’s game.

“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity.

“The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”

The Press Association understands United will not make any disciplinary action against Martinez public, but he has reportedly been fined. It is understood the club now consider the matter closed.

Martinez added: “Our club is at its best when we are all united, and I recognise that my words in that moment did not help with that.

“I know that every single person at Manchester United is doing everything possible to achieve our shared ambition: bringing the success that this club and its supporters deserve.

“With this situation now behind us, we are fully focused on winning together.”

United are back in action on Sunday when they visit Elland Road to take on rivals Leeds, with Carrick facing the media on Friday.

It remains to be seen whether Martinez will be involved in the match as the fall-out from his interview continues.

The 28-year-old launched an attack on the club’s hierarchy and director of football Jason Wilcox in the moments after the 2-0 defeat in the Spanish capital.

He said on Prime Sport: “I expect more, honestly. I expect more (investment).

“Yeah, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director.

“We have to be honest and also as players we have to do more, but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”

Roy Keane branded Manchester United a “circus” following Martinez’s outburst.

Former United defender Gary Neville said Martinez’s comments amounted to a direct attack on his team-mates and suggested senior players would be “absolutely fuming”, while ex-captain Keane described the remarks as symptomatic of the “chaos” at Old Trafford.

“They’re obviously not together,” Keane said of the club, speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast. “It is chaotic there from the top to the bottom. We go there on match days and I don’t like the feeling around the club.

“It just seems chaotic – statements can reflect it. It was chaotic with how they got to (Michael) Carrick as their manager.

“We said from day one there were better options out there, and maybe the players are looking at there’s better options as players out there. It’s chaos, it’s like a circus.”

Neville and Keane shared some of Martinez’s concerns about the state of the club.

However, both questioned the World Cup winner’s individual performances and whether he had sufficient standing to make such comments.

“When Martinez says they should have brought more players in, he’s directly attacking his team-mates,” said Neville.

“If I was Bruno Fernandes and I was Harry Maguire and the other senior players, I’d be absolutely fuming with him because you’re basically saying that some of us shouldn’t be here and we should be bringing more players in.

“That’s what I think he’s saying.”