Martínez says sorry, but the Wilcox question stays

Lisandro Martínez has said sorry. He hasn't said he was wrong.

The defender met United's leadership and Michael Carrick at Carrington on Thursday, then posted an apology for the way he criticised the club after Tuesday's defeat in Madrid. He's been fined, according to BBC Sport, and he's available for Leeds on Sunday.

What he said in Madrid

After the 2-0 loss to Atlético, Martínez pointed upwards. "Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas," he said, as quoted by the Guardian. "I expect more [investment], 100%. I expect more from our technical director."

That's Jason Wilcox, United's director of football. Players don't usually name the man who signs them.

What he said on Thursday

"Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager," Martínez wrote. "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."

Note the word "perhaps". He's sorry for the timing and the venue. He isn't withdrawing the point.

Sky Sports says Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada were in the meeting, that it was Martínez's own decision to apologise publicly, and that there's no pressure on Wilcox internally. The club consider the matter closed.

The awkward bit for United

Martínez wasn't speaking for himself alone. The Guardian reports that his view of Wilcox reflects a wider frustration in the dressing room over recruitment and squad depth, though at least one teammate challenged him over it before the flight home.

The specific gripe is easy to follow. Wilcox oversaw a £155m summer spend on three midfielders: Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba. Per the Guardian, he'd also looked for a left-back, with Newcastle's Lewis Hall the prime target, and didn't get one. Luke Shaw is the only senior specialist there, and he's injured.

The same Guardian report adds a less flattering reading of the outburst: that it's also seen as a push for a move, with Martínez's contract running out next summer unless United take up a 12-month option. BBC Sport says the club still haven't decided on that option.

Our take

Martínez handled it badly. You don't hang your director of football out to dry in a mixed zone in Madrid, and the apology was the right call.

But he wasn't wrong about the squad. A team that spent £155m and still has one fit-ish left-back has a recruitment problem, whatever the statements say. The matter may be closed at Carrington. It isn't closed in the stands.

Now he needs to defend properly at Elland Road. After Solanke's header last week, that's the only answer that counts.