Manchester United’s Champions League defeat at Atlético de Madrid has left Lisandro Martínez urging unity rather than division, after the Argentine defender acknowledged that his criticism of the club’s hierarchy came in the immediate anger of a painful night at the Metropolitano.
Martínez used a social-media message to address comments made after the loss in Madrid, which had also drawn criticism from former United greats. He said his reaction had been driven by the frustration of failing to secure the result the squad and supporters wanted.
The defender stressed that his feelings were rooted in the standards he expects at a club of Manchester United’s stature. He said those who know him understand the intensity with which he approaches the game, his commitment to winning and the disappointment he feels when performances or results fall short.
Representing United, he said, brings a particular weight because of the club’s history and scale. His earlier remarks, Martínez explained, reflected his wish to see the side challenging again for the game’s biggest prizes, rather than a desire to create conflict.
When he spoke of wanting more, Martínez said he meant a shared ambition throughout the club: continued improvement, greater strength and the resources needed to compete at the highest level. Those standards, he added, must apply to everyone, beginning with himself.
The Argentina international accepted that the players carry the foremost responsibility for changing United’s direction. He said the group must demand more of itself and work collectively if it is to take the club back to the top.
Martínez also expressed faith in his team-mates, the manager and the staff working behind the scenes. His purpose, he said, has not changed since joining the club: to win, to compete among Europe’s elite and to give everything for the Manchester United badge.
