Michael Carrick brushed off Lisandro Martínez’s failure to offer Jason Wilcox a public apology after the defender criticised Manchester United’s director of football in the wake of Tuesday’s defeat at Atlético Madrid. Martínez referred directly to Wilcox after the 2-0 Champions League loss, saying: “I expect more from our technical director.” On Thursday Martínez issued an apology that did not mention Wilcox or withdraw the essence of his outburst: the need for more squad investment. Carrick was asked whether he respected Martínez for not saying sorry to Wilcox.
Carrick was pressed on whether it would have been better if Martínez had apologised to Wilcox and for his wider comments about investment, rather than just saying sorry for the timing and location of his interview. Carrick said Martínez was available for Sunday’s trip to Leeds, where Manchester United go having taken only six points from their opening six league games. They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton last month and have one win and a defeat in the Champions League.
Poor form has increased the pressure on Carrick, who was asked whether Martínez’s comments were an unwanted distraction that had annoyed him. There’s a way of doing that, and that’s already been acknowledged, but we need to carry that intensity and that willingness and that togetherness and that spirit. As a group, we need to use it, and we’ve got to use it in the right way.” Wayne Rooney, United’s record goalscorer, claimed Martínez’s comments “will rip the dressing room apart”.
It was put to Carrick that they may have an opposite, unifying effect. He indicated that events on and off the pitch this week had brought the squad together. The boys are in a really good place right now.” Carrick was asked why anyone outside the club, including former players such as Rooney who have criticised Martínez, should believe there is unity.
The squad today [Friday] was in a fantastic place, better than I’ve seen it for a while.” Carrick said Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo faced fitness tests.
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