Michael Carrick insisted there were no divisions in the Manchester United dressing room and dismissed fears Lisandro Martínez’s outburst could derail his struggling team before a potentially defining week.

The United manager admitted Martínez made a mistake attacking Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and the Old Trafford hierarchy about recruitment and for a lack of squad depth after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Atlético Madrid.

Wayne Rooney, the former United captain, claimed Martínez was in effect saying “his team-mates aren’t good enough” and that the remarks could “rip that dressing room apart”.

But Carrick said he had been delighted with the reaction in training on Friday. He also reckoned the squad could emerge stronger for the episode rather than become distracted before crucial games against Leeds, Como and Bournemouth in the next nine days.

“Certain situations… it can galvanise the group and it’s certainly galvanised the group as this week’s progressed,” Carrick said. “The boys are, I have to say, in a really good place right now.

“Lisandro obviously made his statement and he acknowledges that it was a mistake from him and that was it.

“The squad today was in a fantastic place – better than I’ve seen it for a while actually. Sometimes someone says something that maybe they shouldn’t say at a certain time but that doesn’t distract us from what we’re creating here and the environment and spirit within the group.

“I’m telling you the truth when I say that. Do you not believe me? Because people talk from the outside, that doesn’t mean that’s the truth. I’m telling you the truth.”

He added: “We’ve got a really good feeling within the club from the inside. Results wise, it hasn’t gone to plan of late but the spirit and togetherness – today was one of the best training sessions we’ve had – and you can see there’s a real sense and a feeling within the group that we want to do something about this situation and want to do something about it really quickly.

“There’s actually a freshness about the group today, which I really liked. It’s really not a drama for us as a group. We’ve moved on pretty quickly.”

Carrick confirmed Martínez was in contention to face Leeds as United go in search of a second win in seven league games.

United’s worst start to a season for 40 years has intensified the pressure on Carrick as he returns to the scene of Ruben Amorim’s final match as United manager 10 months ago.

Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw face late fitness tests and striker Benjamin Sesko remains sidelined with a shin problem. United face Como in Italy in the Champions League on Wednesday before Bournemouth visit Old Trafford four days later.

Carrick played down any personal pressure. “I don’t need results – we all need results,” he said. “It’s not about me, you know? Manchester United is a lot bigger than any individual. Bigger than me, bigger than any player, anyone else who works at this club. It always has been.

“I don’t go into every day at work in this situation, this game, thinking about me. It’s about the football club, what we stand for, what we live for, the history, the things that we need to live up to, and that’s what drives us. So whatever’s best for the football club and for the team on Sunday is the most important thing, it really is not about me.”