Lisandro Martínez’s view that Jason Wilcox is failing as Manchester United’s director of football reflects the dressing room’s general frustration at recruitment and squad depth, although the outburst is also regarded as a push by the defender to secure a move because he is out of contract next summer.

Martínez’s comments came after Tuesday’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atlético Madrid. This left United with two wins all season, having taken six points from their first six Premier League matches, the club’s poorest league start for 40 years.

The run of form has placed Michael Carrick’s position under pressure, but Martínez zoned in on Wilcox and the rest of the hierarchy. “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.

“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.”

Wilcox, the executive in charge of transfers, oversaw a £155m spend in the last window on Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba. The decision to recruit three midfielders and not strengthen other areas has been met with puzzlement within the squad, particularly as Wilcox sought a left-back, with Newcastle’s Lewis Hall the prime target.

Luke Shaw is United’s only senior player in that position and his 12-year career at the club has been plagued by injury. The 31-year-old missed the Atlético defeat and Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham owing to a muscular problem. The lack of depth at left-back reflects the prevailing view among players that Carrick has been left without the resources to challenge. United were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton after making eight changes.

Although Carrick led United to third last season, this came after he took over as caretaker in mid-January with only 17 league games to play with the team out of all the other competitions.

Martínez is understood to favour a move, ideally to an elite European club outside the Premier League.