“It’s done”: Carrick says Man Utd has moved on from Martinez outburst

Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez looks dejected during his side’s draw against Tottenham Hotspur. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick said the club has put behind the controversy surrounding defender Lisandro Martinez’s outburst towards the club’s hierarchy this week.

Martinez, who has entered the final months of his United contract, took aim at the higher ups of the struggling club following United’s 2-0 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, saying Carrick had been left with an under-strength squad.

The Argentina centre-back criticised technical director Jason Wilcox, saying he had “100 per cent” expected more investment during the summer transfer window after United finished third in the Premier League last season.

It is understood Martinez has been fined for his outburst, but Carrick said he would be in United’s squad for the Premier League match at Leeds United on Sunday.

“It’s done, really,” Carrick said at his pre-match press conference on Friday when asked about Martinez’s comments and his subsequent apology and punishment.

“We’ve moved on from that,” he said. “It was one of those things. He has come out and acknowledged the situation and as a group we’ve moved on.

“It is really not a drama for us as a group. The boys have trained really well, there was a really good feeling around training this morning.”

Martinez, 28, issued an apology on Thursday, saying he had held positive talks with the club’s leadership and Carrick.

“Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity,” he said in a post on Instagram.

“The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.”

Former United captain Roy Keane branded the situation at his former club as “a bit of a circus”.

United travels to Elland Road, the home of one of its fiercest rivals, with just two wins from nine games in all competitions this season.

It is 13th in the Premier League, with just one win from six matches.