Michael Carrick insisted Manchester United remain united despite Lisandro Martínez's public criticism following their 2-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid. Martínez had taken aim at director of football Jason Wilcox and questioned squad strength, prompting Carrick to declare: "We've moved on. This morning there was a really good feeling around the squad."
Carrick dismissed former teammate Wayne Rooney's suggestion that the comments could "rip the dressing room apart", instead hoping the controversy could galvanize the group. Martínez is available for Sunday's trip to Leeds United after apologizing to Carrick, Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, receiving only a fine.
Club executives are more concerned about Martínez airing his grievances publicly rather than the content of his comments, viewing it as a "bizarre approach" despite the £50 million revamp of Carrington designed to improve internal communication. There is broad agreement that the squad is not yet ready for this level of competition.
Carrick, facing mounting scrutiny over his suitability, emphasized he does not feel let down by players, stating mistakes are part of football and it's his job to guide them through difficult periods ahead of the Leeds clash.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing