Manchester United lost 2–0 to Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, but it was the post-match comments that set the agenda in Manchester on Wednesday morning. Lisandro Martínez took direct aim at the club's hierarchy in an interview with Amazon Prime – pointing above manager Michael Carrick, rather than at him.

“I have to control myself a lot, but sometimes it reflects how our club is right now,” the Argentine said, according to Sky Sports. “We had a fantastic season last year, and now we expect more from the top.”

He did not stop at hints, either. “I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest,” said Martínez, who was referring to Jason Wilcox, according to CBS Sports. Asked whether he had expected more signings, he replied: “Yes, one hundred per cent.”

You start changing, changing, changing the manager. But what about the other areas?

Lisandro Martínez to Amazon Prime

The quote above comes from the AP news agency. On Carrick, the defender said only that he was “doing his best”. Asked about the manager's future, he replied: “I can't say any more.”

Behind after 47 seconds

The match at the Metropolitano got off to the worst possible start. Pablo Barrios shot after 47 seconds, with the ball deflecting off Ayden Heaven and past Senne Lammens. Atlético also had a Johnny Cardoso goal disallowed just before half-time following a VAR check, because Marcos Llorente had handled the ball in the build-up.

After 74 minutes, Leny Yoro was sent off following a VAR review for denying Jonathan David an obvious goalscoring opportunity. Five minutes later, Ademola Lookman put away the rebound after Lammens had saved from David. Bruno Fernandes hit the crossbar for United, while Julián Álvarez struck the post for Atlético. According to The Analyst, the expected goals figures finished at 1.42 to 0.98.

Carrick declined to respond

Carrick had not seen the interview when he faced the press. “Straight after a game is not the time to talk about that interview,” he said. “I'm bitterly disappointed with certain things, and so are the lads, as a group.”

The remarks drew criticism from two former stars. Wayne Rooney called them “a little disrespectful” towards his team-mates, while Jamie Carragher felt the comments helped nobody, Sky Sports reports. Martínez is in the final year of his contract.

The backdrop is a sharp downturn after last season's third-place finish. United spent £155 million on four major summer signings, but are now five games without a win in all competitions. In the Premier League, they have won just once in six matches and sit 13th in the table. According to NBC Sports, it is the club's worst start to a league season in 40 years. Saturday's 1–1 home draw against a Tottenham side who played the closing minutes with ten men did nothing to improve the situation. The injury list was already long before that match, as we reported last week, and both Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo were absent in Madrid.

The next match is away to Leeds on Sunday at 15.00. Leeds are seventh with nine points, three more than United.