Carrick: Martinez comments don't distract Man Utd ahead of Leeds trip
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has insisted Lisandro Martinez's explosive post-match comments have not affected the squad, and confirmed the defender will be part of the squad for Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds United at Elland Road (14:00 BST).
- Fixture: Leeds United vs Manchester United, Premier League, Sunday, Elland Road, 14:00 BST
- Headline: Lisandro Martinez is part of the Manchester United squad after apologising for the timing of his comments
- What happened: Martinez criticised United's hierarchy after the 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid
- Reaction: Wayne Rooney, Roy Keane and Gary Neville have all had their say on the fallout
- Manager's view: Carrick says the squad is in a fantastic place and is not affected
What was said
"There's a lot of people who say a lot of things - ex-pros or not ex-pros - it doesn't necessarily mean they understand what is going on here."
"Just because people talk on the outside doesn't mean that is the truth. I am telling you the truth. The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I have seen it for a while. That is it, plain and simple. We are living it every day and know what it feels like."
"We are emotional and care a lot. Sometimes someone says something that maybe you shouldn't say at that certain time, but it doesn't distract us from what we are creating here and the environment and spirit within the group."
"It [the squad] is not affected, I am telling you."
Carrick's words are a direct response to the wave of punditry that followed Martinez's comments, which turned the spotlight on director of football Jason Wilcox. The manager did not deny the comments happened, but framed them as an emotional reaction from a player who cares deeply about the club.
By confirming Martinez will be part of the squad at Leeds, Carrick has effectively closed the door on the idea of internal punishment. The timing of the apology matters: Martinez said sorry for when he spoke, not for what he said. That distinction leaves the substance of his criticism hanging over the club while the manager tries to move the conversation back to football.
Why Carrick is protecting Martinez rather than isolating him
Lisandro Martinez remains a senior voice in United's dressing room after the departure of several experienced players. Carrick's decision to keep him involved is a practical one: dropping a defender of his standing would invite another week of headlines and weaken the squad before a hostile away trip.
The manager's language matters. He repeatedly used the phrase "I am telling you" to assert authority over the narrative. He also went out of his way to praise the current environment. That is not the tone of a manager preparing to sell a player or strip him of responsibility. It is the tone of a manager managing a dressing room by keeping the awkward conversation internal.
The risk is obvious. If United lose at Elland Road, every pundit who condemned Martinez will be back on air by Sunday evening. Carrick's defence of his squad will only hold if the performance backs it up. Against a Leeds side that will press aggressively at home, United's midfield and defence will need the kind of unity Carrick says exists at Carrington.
The numbers
- 2-0: the score of Manchester United's Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, after which Martinez made his comments
- 14:00 BST: kick-off time for Sunday's Premier League match at Elland Road
- Three: former United captains who have commented on the fallout - Roy Keane, Gary Neville and Wayne Rooney
Talking points
- Carrick says the squad is not affected - but if United lose at Leeds, the pundits will argue Martinez succeeded in destabilising the club.
- Martinez apologised for the timing of his comments, not the words themselves. That leaves his criticism of the hierarchy officially unanswered.
- Wayne Rooney claimed Martinez could "rip the dressing room apart". Carrick's response is effectively a public denial that the dressing room is broken.
- Keeping Martinez in the squad could be seen as weakness by some fans. Exiling him would hand the story to the pundits for another week.
What happens next
Manchester United travel to Elland Road on Sunday for a 14:00 BST kick-off in the Premier League. Carrick has confirmed Martinez will be part of the squad. The result and the performance will determine whether the manager's insistence that the club has moved on is vindicated or becomes another talking point in a season already full of them.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lisandro Martinez playing for Manchester United against Leeds?
Carrick confirmed Martinez will be "part of the squad" for Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds at Elland Road.
What did Michael Carrick say about the Lisandro Martinez fallout?
Carrick said he is "telling the truth" when he says the squad has moved on and is not affected. He added: "The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I have seen it for a while."
Why did Lisandro Martinez apologise?
Martinez apologised for the timing of his comments after Manchester United's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, but not for the words themselves.
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