The Guardian
October 13, 2026

Lisandro Martinez spoke to Amazon and really let rip: “Really poor. Really poor. I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.
“We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserve to win today.
“I expect more. 100%. I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night.”
“Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team. It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here.”
“[Michael Carrick] does his best. Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams knows how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season is a big problem. You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can’t say more.
“Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas.”
Here’s the post-match quotes, and Wednesday’s headlines.
The Champions League table after Tuesday, with games to follow on Wednesday.
Here’s Sid Lowe’s report from Madrid. There will be further reaction to follow.
So much for a reaction, a rebellion: instead, there was a kind of resignation, a sense that this is just their reality: a game that began badly, barely got better, and finished even worse. Even the late red card for Leny Yoro at 1-0 which can be offered up in mitigation may not be really; this isn’t what United are supposed to be.
It’s fair to say Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney are not amused by the Lisandro comments, suggesting he’s gone off the reservation by saying what he did. Next question: will he play at Leeds?
Michael Carrick on Lisandro’s outburst: “I haven’t seen it. After a game like this you come here to try and get something from the game and you are disappointed and can be emotional. I have not seen it so I don’t think it is the right time.
“We all care and show that in different ways but now is the time to be together and work through.”
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