Lisandro Martínez did not hold back after Manchester United's defeat to Atlético Madrid, making pointed remarks that lay responsibility for the club's decline squarely at the feet of its owners and directors rather than manager Michael Carrick.

The Argentine defender's candid outburst shone a harsh light on the dysfunction at Old Trafford, suggesting that those at the top of the club have created conditions in which failure has become almost inevitable.

A squad set up to struggle

Martínez's frustration reflects a sentiment that has grown steadily among supporters: that recruitment decisions, structural choices, and the broader vision — or absence of one — handed down from the boardroom have left the playing staff ill-equipped to compete.

Rather than directing criticism at Carrick, whose influence over the club's direction remains limited, Martínez pointed upward. His message was stark — the problems at Manchester United begin long before a ball is kicked.

Leadership under scrutiny

The comments put the club's hierarchy under fresh pressure at a delicate moment. Manchester United's owners and directors now face mounting questions about their long-term plan and whether the current structure can deliver the ambitions the club once stood for.

For Martínez, a player who joined the club expecting to compete at the highest level, the gap between promise and reality appears to have become impossible to ignore. His willingness to speak publicly signals that patience inside the dressing room is wearing thin.

Whether those at the helm respond with meaningful change — or allow frustration to fester further — could define the club's direction for years to come.