Carragher brands Martinez's 'fantastic' Man United season claim a 'myth'
Jamie Carragher has launched a fresh attack on Lisandro Martinez, accusing the Manchester United defender of perpetuating a "myth" about the club's recent standing after the Argentina international's explosive criticism of the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Martinez made his claims in the aftermath of United's 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, before later issuing an apology. The centre-back argued that United had enjoyed a "fantastic" campaign last season and insisted the club needed to invest more heavily after finishing third in the Premier League under interim boss Michael Carrick.
"Expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest. And also, as a player, we have to do more," Martinez said following the Atletico loss, according to reporting published on 14 October. "It's also important to build a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night."
Carragher was among the first to round on the defender. Speaking to CBS Sports on 14 October, he called the comments "awful" and damaging. "Every set of supporters don't like the suits or the guys upstairs, so United fans will lap this up and think it's great. I think it's awful that he's come out and said that right now. I do." Wayne Rooney, meanwhile, said the defender had gone too far and disrespected his team-mates.
In a new Telegraph column, the Sky Sports pundit has now gone further, dismantling Martinez's central claim that last season represented a success.
'Less it stands up to scrutiny'
"The more you listen to MartÃnez's argument, the less it stands up to scrutiny," Carragher wrote. "'We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top,' he said, perpetuating a myth which is doing United more harm than good. In what world does United sacking a manager, losing to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup and going out early in the FA Cup qualify as 'fantastic'?
"United finished so high in the Premier League because Liverpool and Chelsea were awful and they could benefit from the lack of European football after being historically bad in 2025. Anyone who seriously believed they came into this season as the third-best team in England, or on the threshold of a title challenge with a couple more additions, is suffering serious delusion symptoms.
"Michael Carrick steadied the ship as interim, but it was entirely predictable that a young, inexperienced coach would find it more challenging under the weight of competing in the Premier League and Champions League."
United's grim reality
The criticism lands with United in deep trouble this term. The 13-time English champions sit 13th in the Premier League having won just one of their opening six games of the 2026-27 season. Martinez, for his part, has featured in five of those league matches without registering a goal or assist.
The Argentinian's outburst, and the wave of former players and pundits lining up to rebut it, has ensured the fallout from the Atletico defeat dominates the narrative around a side already under intense scrutiny.