Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has insisted he is "telling the truth" when stating that the club has moved past Lisandro Martinez's explosive post-match remarks. Speaking from United's Carrington training ground during his pre-match media conference, Carrick dismissed external noise following the incident, declaring that the collective squad is in a positive state and unaffected by recent headlines.
The controversy followed United's 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, after which the Argentine defender hit out at the club's hierarchy, directing the spotlight onto director of football Jason Wilcox. While Martinez subsequently offered an apology for the timing of his critical remarks, he did not apologise for the substance of the words themselves.
Martinez's comments sparked heavy analysis and criticism, spearheaded by Carrick's close friend and former team-mate Wayne Rooney, who warned that the defender could "rip the dressing room apart." Former United captains Gary Neville and Roy Keane also shared their thoughts amid the widespread reaction. Responding to the debate, Carrick noted that comments from outside figures—whether "ex-pros or not ex-pros"—do not reflect an understanding of the internal situation. Carrick explained that while people can be emotional and say things they perhaps should not say at a given time, the team's spirit remains intact, adding: "The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I have seen it for a while. That is it, plain and simple."
Looking ahead, Carrick stated that the dressing room will not be distracted from the environment being built at the club. The head coach confirmed that Martinez will remain involved on the pitch, verifying that the defender will be "part of the squad" when Manchester United travel to Elland Road to face Leeds in the Premier League on Sunday at 14:00 BST.