According to a report by Evening Standard on Monday October 19, 2026, Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes Lisandro Martinez's controversial comments about the club's hierarchy may have helped the team by providing a much-needed wake-up call.

Martinez criticised Manchester United's leadership and recruitment strategy following their 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Argentine defender reportedly took aim at director of football Jason Wilcox over the club's transfer business.

Martinez's remarks sparked controversy, prompting him to apologise after meeting club CEO Omar Berrada and head coach Michael Carrick.

However, Neville believes the incident may have helped United by creating the urgency the dressing room needed after a disappointing performance.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former United captain said: “99 times out of 100 you could never really point towards those comments helping anybody.”

Neville explained that Martinez's criticism of the ownership and technical leadership could also be interpreted as criticism of his teammates and the quality of the squad.

“He’s launched into the ownership, the technical director, he’s effectively, without saying it, criticised his team-mates and the squad, which you do directly when you say that you’ve not added enough quality,” Neville said.

Despite his criticism of Martinez's approach, Neville acknowledged that Manchester United needed a strong reaction after their poor performance against Tottenham.

“He’s come out and apologised, and that dressing room did need spiking. It needed a right rocket up its backside after that woeful performance against Tottenham,” Neville said.

Martinez apologised following a meeting with Berrada and Carrick, with reports suggesting that the defender had also been fined over his comments.

The controversy came ahead of United's 1-1 draw against Leeds United in the Premier League. Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead in the 35th minute, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised six minutes into the second half.

The result extended United's winless run to six games, according to the report, leaving Carrick under pressure to improve the team's performances.

Martinez was also substituted at half-time against Leeds after experiencing a thigh problem, with Carrick confirming that the change was related to the defender's fitness.

Neville's comments highlight the difficult balance between allowing players to express their concerns and maintaining unity within the dressing room.

Although Martinez's criticism may have resonated with supporters frustrated by the club's direction, United must now focus on turning the controversy into a positive response on the pitch.