Gary Neville is adamant Manchester United’s players were 'launching it' at each other in the dressing room following Lisandro Martinez’s explosive outburst against the club’s hierarchy last week.
Speaking after United's Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid last Tuesday, Martinez singled out sporting director Jason Wilcox, accusing the club’s board of lacking ambition in the latest transfer window.
Later that evening, United team-mate Amad Diallo posted a picture of himself at Old Trafford with the caption: 'f***ing disgrace, I have no words', although it remains unclear whether the Ivorian was referring to his team's performance or Martinez's post-match outburst.
Former Red Devils captain Neville believes Diallo's post offered a glimpse into the turmoil inside United’s dressing room over the past week, claiming team-mates would have been ‘launching it’ at each other in the build-up to Sunday's 1-1 draw with Leeds.
'If you think about Amad Diallo's Snapchat, was it a "you're an effing disgrace?" Well, that's at his team-mate,' he said on his Sky Sports podcast after the draw at Elland Road.
'So, they've both they're obviously launching at each other. I think he's got a bit about him, Amad, to be fair.
'So has Martinez. Martinez has got something about him. He's gone rogue, but so's Amad. "What you shout, you know, I mean, you're a f***ing disgrace" type thing. And I think that's what's happening here. That's the dynamic.
'Well, that can only be a good thing for Michael Carrick because you're looking at it and thinking it needs something. It needs somebody to sort of start fighting back. It needs something to cause a moment of... he needs something. He needs a rocket up it. So, yeah, maybe that's the maybe that's the turning point.
'Maybe Lisandro Martinez has done the best motivational speech that he's ever done for Manchester United on Tuesday night. Maybe he's done them a favour.'
Both Martinez and Diallo started United's 1-1 draw on Sunday after Carrick cleared the Argentine to play following his explosive tirade against the club's hierarchy.
Claiming the dressing room had 'moved on' from the incident on Friday, the manager urged that his squad were in a good place after undergoing a 'fantastic' training session.
Despite his positivity, United were only able to claim a point at Elland Road to extend their winless streak to six matches ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash against Cesc Fabregas' Como.
During his furious interview, Martinez indirectly insulted his team-mates by claiming United's squad lack the quality required to compete for trophies.
Reacting to his brutal comments immediately after the game, Man United legend Wayne Rooney feared Martinez could have ripped an already-fragile dressing room apart at Old Trafford.
'I think it's a bit disrespectful to his team-mates as well because he's disrespecting his team-mates, he's saying they're not good enough,' he said on Amazon Prime.
'I think Bruno is probably the only one who has any right coming out and saying something like that, if I'm being honest as captain.
'And even then it should be behind closed doors if there are issues, which does happen. Players have conversations with the manager, the manager then has a conversation with the board. But that interview there, it's not going to help the situation the club is in at the minute.'
Asked if Carrick was backed enough after Atletico Madrid's 2-0 win, Martinez said: 'I don't think so. He does his best. You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager.
'What about other areas? Tonight it is easy to say the coach and easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas.
'I expect more (investment) 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director. I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.
'We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top; more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well.'
Kidmoprstu
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Gary, it's called Manchester Divided. Manchester United is long gone. 🤣🤣😂