Wilcox the target again in another damaging Man Utd falling-out

Key points

• Lisandro Martinez criticized Manchester United's technical director after a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.
• Jason Wilcox, United's director of football, is not in danger of losing his job, sources say.
• Martinez's contract expires at the end of the season, and United have an option to extend it.

Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez has publicly criticized the club's technical director following a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid. In a post-match interview with US broadcaster CBS, Martinez said, "I expect more from our technical director," though he slightly misstated the job title. The target was widely understood to be Jason Wilcox, United's director of football.

The outburst echoes a similar incident nearly 10 months ago when then-manager Ruben Amorim gave an explosive news conference at Leeds after Wilcox had advised him to change tactics. Amorim was sacked less than 24 hours later. This time, Martinez's comments have again put Wilcox in the spotlight.

What Martinez said

Interviewer Peter Schmeichel, a former United goalkeeper, tried four times to steer Martinez away from discussing the club's summer transfer window. Each time, Martinez refused to be deflected. "We don't have the best squad at the moment compared to other top teams," he said. "I'm not going to close my mouth. We need more ambition. If we don't say the truth, nothing will change."

Dressing room sources told BBC Sport during the summer that United needed more than the three players they eventually signed—Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba—and that it was "fairly obvious" they needed a left-back and a striker. Another source with knowledge of Old Trafford described the current situation as "a mess."

We don't have the best squad at the moment compared to other top teams. I'm not going to close my mouth. We need more ambition. If we don't say the truth, nothing will change.

— Lisandro Martinez

Wilcox safe for now

United sources say Wilcox, 55, is not in any danger of losing his job. The recruitment department is already working on January targets, with the club accepting that not signing a left-back to compete with Luke Shaw and a striker to support Benjamin Sesko was flawed. Sesko is sidelined indefinitely after a recurrence of a shin issue.

Unlike other major footballing countries, there is no expectation for sporting or technical directors in England to speak to the media. Wilcox's only extensive interview since his April 2024 appointment was with United's in-house media. In it, he said, "I am a coach at heart," and admitted he always wants to interfere in what managers are doing.