Roy Keane has criticized Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire for failing to maintain order in the Manchester United dressing room following Lisandro Martínez's criticism of the club's hierarchy after Tuesday's 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid. Martínez had questioned United's lack of investment during the summer transfer window and criticized director of football Jason Wilcox.
Martínez's remarks are believed to have triggered a confrontation with a United teammate on the flight back to Manchester, though it remains unclear which player challenged him. Speaking on the 'Stick to Football' podcast, Keane suggested Fernandes and Maguire were too focused on podcast appearances to address the situation, arguing that neither man seemed willing to pull Martínez aside over his comments.
Keane referenced Fernandes' summer appearance on Steven Bartlett's 'Diary of a CEO' podcast, where the United captain appeared to take a dig at him, and Maguire's appearance on 'The Rest Is Football' podcast in New York after being left out of Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad. Keane said: "They're pulling nobody. This reflects where Manchester United are and where this dressing room is. Maguire gets left out of the England squad - he's all upset with that. Instead of rolling his sleeves up during the summer, 'I'm going to go to New York and do a podcast for a few weeks.'"
He added: "That's the mindset of a Man United player, I'm going to start doing these little gigs instead of getting Man United competing at the very top. So this idea, when I see a player have a little b**** the last few days, I'd be more annoyed at Maguire and Bruno for getting things off their chests on podcasts. You get your priorities in place as a footballer."
Keane also reflected on how dressing rooms used to handle such moments, saying: "Back in our day it was more magazines than podcasts, but if a player went off and said something, even silly, he'd come in the dressing room, and lads would say: 'What are you talking about?' You'd put him in his place in that sense - not a big bust-up."
He continued: "Man United is a circus. If you can, try and do your talking on the pitch. If you have to let off a bit of steam, ok, but try and do it on the back of some victories, or when you've won a league title or something like that." Keane went further, saying: "These players have done nothing for the last few years at Man United. Two years ago we were finishing 13th (15th) or whatever, getting knocked out by Grimsby, and they're coming up with all these comments."
The 'Stick to Football' panel, which also featured Gary Neville, Steven Gerrard, Ian Wright and Jill Scott, agreed that Martínez's criticism of the club's recruitment could cause friction within the dressing room. Several members of the squad are understood to have been angered by his outburst.
What Martínez said
Speaking to Amazon Prime after the defeat, an incensed Martínez said: "Really poor performance, really poor. I have to control myself a lot. But sometimes it is the reflection, the mirror, for our club at the moment. A fantastic season last season, but now we are far from the top. We have to bring in more players to compete."
He added: "Look at Atlético, they had an amazing team, they deserved to win. I expect more, from everyone. More investment? Yes, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest. As players, we have to do more, but it's also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this sort of night."
Asked whether manager Michael Carrick was to blame, Martínez responded: "I don't think so. He does his best, but every season is different. Teams know how you play, every detail. If you don't change each season, it's a big problem. Changing, changing, changing manager? What about other areas? I can't say more. It's easy to blame the coach, it's easy to blame the players, but what about other areas?"
Martínez later took to Instagram to clarify his comments, acknowledging he had spoken out in anger and frustration. He wrote: "When I talk about wanting more, I'm talking about the ambition we must all have as part of this club. To keep growing, to become stronger and to have everything we need to compete at the highest level. These are standards we must all hold ourselves to, starting with me." He added: "I know that, first and foremost, it's us, the players, who have to deliver, and I put myself at the front of that responsibility. We need to demand even more of ourselves and work together to take Manchester United back to the top. I believe in my teammates, our manager and everyone working to help this club move forward."
A day earlier, reports indicated Manchester United had decided Jason Wilcox's position as director of football remained secure despite Martínez's criticism, with the club still deliberating possible disciplinary measures against the defender.
United currently sit 13th in the Premier League and return to league action this Sunday away to Leeds United at Elland Road. It remains undetermined whether Martínez will be available for that match, or whether the club will pursue disciplinary action against him.
