Manchester United star Lisandro Martinez has lashed out at the clubs board and Wayne Rooney has slammed the defender's actions

Wayne Rooney has blasted Lisandro Martinez's outburst following Manchester United's defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The United legend accused the defender of having an 'agenda' during his post-match interview, as the Argentina international hit out at the club's board.

United fell short in Spain as goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman secured victory for the hosts. Michael Carrick's side are now winless in five matches, leading to questions over the club's direction.

Martinez was markedly unhappy with the result, despite many suggesting it was an improved performance, and took the opportunity to hit out at his employers immediately following the match.

"We did a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, more players to compete because many teams bring many players as well. Atletico have an amazing team and they deserve to win today," Martinez said.

"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."

And his words sparked some anger in Rooney, who believes that Martinez has risked causing further chaos in United's dressing and upsetting the applecart with his team-mates.

"It's a difficult one because I always used to feel like I was outspoken as a player and you want to have your opinion, but I think he's maybe gone too far," Rooney said in response. "That should be down to the manager, and that should stay internal because the fans want to hear the players speak and they want to see them care.

"He clearly cares and wants the club to invest more money and more players, and if they do that, I think he'll be one of the players out of the door if I'm being honest with his performances. His performances haven't been good enough but I think in some ways he is right, in terms of the club need to invest more at the top end of the pitch and in defence as well.

"I think it looks like that was a bit of an agenda from him because that doesn't mirror the performance. I thought the performance was better.

"I think it's a bit disrespectful to his team-mates as well because he's disrespecting his team-mates, he's saying they're not good enough. I think Bruno is probably the only one who has any right coming out and saying something like that, if I'm being honest as captain.

"And even then it should be behind closed doors if there are issues, which does happen. Players have conversations with the manager, the manager then has a conversation with the board. But that interview there, it's not going to help the situation the club is in at the minute.

"Now all that's going to bring is more noise around it, the players are unhappy, they're unsettled, they don't trust in their own team-mates, that's not going to help at all."

Ex-United captain Rooney believes Martinez had selfish motives behind his interview and that it was likely planned in advance.

"I think it looks like a player trying to look after himself in my opinion," Ronney added. "He's probably disappointed he hasn't been offered a new contract and there's reasons he's not been offered a new contract.

"I think the Martinez was very premeditated. Why is he doing the interview after this game? Has he put himself forward? I very rarely hear him speak. It looked a bit premeditated and something he spoke about with his team to get out there.

"It's sad because when you need everyone to stick together as players, you can't be told what's going on above you, so you need the players, the manager, and the coaching staff to stick together when you're having a difficult time; otherwise, something like that will rip a dressing room apart."

Former Manchester United ace Ashley Young was on punditry duty with Rooney and believes that Martinez's focus needs to be elsewhere. He conceded that the 28-year-old may have had a point, but his priority should be on improving the team's performance.

"We spoke before the game about how the club needed to invest more, but when they've invested in the midfield but what does he want? Go and buy a whole new team?" Young remarked. "They're not going to do that.

"They need to start in different positions. They could've bought up front or in defence but they didn't. He's just come off the pitch, emotions are running high, we know that. But we know the recruitment has to work; it has to be better, and they've got to take the time to do it.

"The players have got to take it upon themselves, 'we're the players that are in this team, we're the players who are in this squad and go out on the pitch.' They are the ones who have to go and produce and show what they're about. There's not going to be any change now until January."

Rooney reflected on his own experience when he demanded to know Sir Alex Ferguson's plans for the squad during his own playing career. The player-turned-pundit suggested it quickly became a move he regretted.

"For me, it's disrespectful to his team-mates, I had a similar situation when I went in and asked Alex Ferguson about what players were bringing in, and I apologised two days later," he said. "So I can speak from experience of what he's just done, I think it is very disrespectful, there's a lot of young players in that dressing room as well, I need some guidance from experienced players."

Rooney believes that the board may be forced to confront Martinez. "The board have to look at that, and they probably don't have to take some action on that, because that's just disrespecting the whole football club.

"Yes, there's issues, everyone wants more players and better players, but this is the players you've got, as a player, you've got to get on with it, you've got to go and show why you're a World Cup winner, as I said before.

"So, I think the board have to either come out and speak on it, or maybe you don't have to flush them out and get them to speak and speak to the fans, but I just think it's the wrong time, and it's not going to help anyone at the club and it's not going to help his teammates or the manager."

Young believes that Martinez's move could even fracture the squad ahead of their Premier League match against rivals Leeds. "Other players will see that interview and be thinking: 'What's he talking about?' We need to stick together'" he said.

"Especially how things are going right now. You've got a massive game on the weekend, you need everyone on side, everyone sticking together. With an interview like that, that could have fractions throughout the squad rest of the week and that could derail what this performance was tonight."