Manchester United have moved on from Martinez outburst, claims Michael Carrick

Michael Carrick has played down Lisandro Martínez's failure to apologise publicly to Manchester United director Jason Wilcox, insisting the defender's comments have not affected the dressing room ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash against Leeds United.

In Short

• Michael Carrick said Martinez's fallout has not affected Man Utd dressing room
• Martinez criticised club leadership after the Champions League loss but later apologised
• Former players Rooney, Keane, Neville reacted strongly to Martinez's comments

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has insisted that Lisandro Martnez's public fallout with the club's hierarchy has not affected the dressing room, playing down the defender's failure to apologise directly to director of football Jason Wilcox.

Martinez drew attention after Manchester United's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid when he took aim at the club's leadership. The Argentine later apologised for the timing of his comments but did not retract his criticism or name Wilcox in his statement.

The episode sparked a strong reaction from former United players, with Wayne Rooney warning that such comments could cause divisions within the dressing room. Roy Keane and Gary Neville also weighed in on the controversy.

Carrick, however, dismissed suggestions that the incident had unsettled the squad, saying the mood around the team remained positive despite the criticism from outside the club.

"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," Carrick said at his pre-match press conference at Carrington.

The United boss acknowledged that players could sometimes let their emotions get the better of them, particularly when they cared deeply about the club. He insisted, though, that Martinez's remarks had not undermined the team's spirit.

"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," he added.

Carrick also confirmed that Martinez would be available for Sunday's Premier League trip to Leeds, suggesting the defender remained part of his plans despite the controversy.

CARRICK WANTS MAN UTD TO MOVE FORWARD

Asked whether Martinez should have named Wilcox in his statement, Carrick made it clear that he did not consider the matter worth prolonging.

"He's released his statement, he's realised he's made a mistake, and I think that's enough for all of us to move on with," he said.

Wilcox has found himself in the spotlight before. He became United's director of football after Dan Ashworth's departure in December 2024 and was also criticised by former manager Ruben Amorim during the Portuguese coach's final press conference before his dismissal in January.

The 55-year-old has rarely spoken publicly about the club's internal affairs. Carrick was asked whether Wilcox should address the latest controversy himself but declined to offer a view on what his colleague should do.

"I don't think it's for me to say whether he should or not," Carrick said, adding that he was comfortable speaking to the media and taking responsibility for the team.

"I've got no problem sitting here, talking to you guys and leading the group, leading the team, leading the football club from this position. We're all in it together."

Rather than dwell on the disagreement, Carrick wants United to channel their emotions into performances on the pitch. The former midfielder said passion and intensity remained important, provided players expressed them in a way that strengthened the collective effort.

"We ask for passion, we ask for emotion, we ask for fire and we ask for players to care. There's a way of doing that, and that's already been acknowledged," he said.

"But we need to carry that intensity, that willingness, togetherness and spirit and everything else you can bring with that. As a group, we need to use it, and we've got to use it in the right way."

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