Lisandro Martínez has hit out at the Manchester United hierarchy, blaming the lack of investment as their dismal start to the season continued. Goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman pushed United to a 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid, and the Argentina defender described that as a “mirror” of the way the club are. “Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas,” he said, pointing upwards.

Asked for his appraisal of the night, Martínez said: “Really poor, really poor. I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.

“It is annoying, disappointing coming here and I am not seeing my team trying to get an amazing result here.

“I expect more [investment], 100%. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]. I have to be honest, as players we have to do more but it is also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this kind of night. Last season we did everything, we created the base to create an amazing team.”

United won 12 of 17 games under Michael Carrick last season but during the summer they made only three major signings – Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans – plus the back-up goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free transfer from Leeds, and have won only twice in all competitions so far this term. They have suffered the worst start to a league campaign in 40 years.

Asked if the manager had been backed sufficiently, Martínez replied: “I don’t think so. He does his best. Every season is different. You can’t stay with what you did last season. The teams knows how you play, they know every detail, if you don’t change next season [it] is a big problem.

“You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas?” Martínez added, looking up. “I can’t say more.”

When Martínez’s words were put to Carrick, he said: “I haven’t seen the interview. I have half-heard about it. I think it’s a little bit the emotions of the game [talking]. I have to find out a bit more about it to be honest to decide what and if anything is going to be done. I can’t comment further.”

United’s manager also insisted that his side had “four almost one vs ones” and that he did not understand Leny Yoro’s red card on a night when they could have gone back to Manchester with a different result. “It is easy to look and think there is something deeply wrong, I understand that, but the players have been great,” he said. “There’s willing, and [they are] disappointed that they haven’t come out of here with something. We think we could have, should have.”