Lisandro Martinez has said he expects more from Manchester United’s technical director, Jason Wilcox, and said the club needs to invest more in the first-team squad to compete at the top level.

The Argentina international, speaking after Tuesday night’s 2-0 Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, said the loss was a “mirror for the club”.

“Really poor performance, really poor,” Martinez told Amazon Prime after the game in Madrid.

“I have to control myself a lot. But sometimes it is the reflection, the mirror, for our club at the moment. A fantastic season last season, but now we are far from the top. We have to bring in more players to compete. Look at Atletico, they had an amazing team, they deserved to win.

“I expect more, from everyone. More investment? Yes, 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director, I have to be honest. As players, we have to do more, but its also important when you make a strong squad to be ready for this sort of night.

“Last season we created a base to build an amazing team, but this is something to be honest. It’s annoying, to come here with my team and not trying to get an amazing result.”

Martinez was then asked if United head coach Michael Carrick was sufficiently backed with investment in the squad over the summer. “I don’t think so,” Martinez responded. “He does his best, but every season is different. Teams know how you play, every detail. If you don’t change each season, it’s a big problem.

“Changing, changing, changing manager? What about other areas? I can’t say more. It’s easy to blame the coach, it’s easy to blame the players, but what about other areas?”

When Martinez’s comments were put to his United team-mate Youri Tielemans, a summer arrival from Aston Villa, the midfielder replied: “I’ve got no comment on that.”

Later, United head coach Carrick said he had not seen the interview, and added: “After a game like this, you come here to get something and itcan be a little emotional. We all care and we show that in different ways, but now is the time to be together and prepare for a big game on Sunday (against Leeds United).”

United legend Wayne Rooney, who was covering the game as a pundit for Amazon Prime, said Martinez’s comments had gone “too far” and “should really stay internal”.

“I always felt I was outspoken as a player and you want to have your opinions,” said Rooney. “He’s maybe gone a bit too far, it should really stay internal.

“The fans want to see the players care and he clearly cares, he wants the club to invest more money in players. In some ways he is right, the club needs to invest more in the top end of the pitch and in defence, but it looks like a bit of an agenda. Like he’s been wanting to say because that doesn’t mirror the performance.

“It’s a big disrespectful to his team-mates as well, he’s saying they’re not good enough. I think Bruno (Fernandes) is the only one who has any right to come out and say that … It’s not going to help at all.”