Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has strongly criticised Manchester United centre-back Lisandro Martinez after the Argentine questioned the club’s leadership following their 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Carragher described Martinez’s comments as “awful” and argued that the defender should focus on improving his own performances rather than publicly criticising the club’s hierarchy.
Martinez sparked controversy after United’s defeat in Madrid on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, when he expressed disappointment with the club’s summer transfer business and suggested that more should have been done to strengthen the squad.
The Argentina international specifically pointed to technical director Jason Wilcox, saying he had expected greater investment to help United compete with their rivals.
“I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest,” Martinez said, while also acknowledging that the players themselves needed to improve.
His remarks came after a difficult night for Manchester United, who conceded twice against Atletico Madrid and were reduced to 10 men following Leny Yoro’s dismissal.
Reacting to the interview, Carragher questioned Martinez’s decision to air his frustrations publicly, insisting that the comments would only create further distractions for the club.
“I think it’s awful that he’s come out and said that right now,” Carragher said, arguing that the defender’s remarks would dominate discussions around United in the days following the defeat.
The former Liverpool star also challenged Martinez’s description of the previous campaign as a fantastic season, suggesting that Manchester United’s third-place finish in the Premier League needed to be viewed in context.
Carragher further turned his attention to the defender’s individual performances, saying Martinez had endured a poor start to the current season despite being a World Cup winner with Argentina.
“I think he’s a good player, by the way, he’s a World Cup winner, I get that, but he’s had an awful start to the season. Awful. Really poor,” Carragher added.
