Carrington is no stranger to intensity, but what unfolded today went beyond the usual edge of a Manchester United training session. According to insiders, the morning’s drills descended into a storm of words between Lisandro Martínez and head coach Ruben Amorim, leaving the Argentine centre back furious and visibly shaken.
Those close to the squad say the confrontation began during a high tempo defensive drill, when Amorim stopped play and launched into a sharp critique of Martínez’s positioning and influence. The tone, more than the content, is said to have stunned the defender, who sees himself as one of the emotional leaders of the team.
After the session, Martínez did not hide his disappointment in private conversations that have now filtered out of the camp. He reportedly told teammates that he felt blindsided by the manager’s approach, especially given his service and commitment since joining the club. For a player who prides himself on loyalty and fight, the words cut deep.
“I have served this club for years before reaching this point where they are today,” Martínez is understood to have said. “But what Ruben Amorim told me in training today, I was not expecting that from someone I respect and call my manager.” That line alone has sparked a wave of discussion among supporters and pundits.
Early reports suggest that Amorim was pushing the entire group to raise standards after what he viewed as a flat start to training. In doing so, he is believed to have singled out Martínez as an example, telling him that no one in the squad could live off past performances or reputation. Every position, he insisted, must be earned again.
The message may have been intended as tough love, but it clearly struck a nerve. Martínez, known for his warrior mentality and refusal to back down, is said to have briefly walked away from the drill to regain his composure before returning to complete the session. Those watching described the atmosphere afterwards as heavy and uncomfortable.
Inside the dressing room, reactions are said to be mixed. Some players reportedly view Amorim’s stance as a necessary line in the sand, a reminder that complacency will not be tolerated. Others are believed to sympathise with Martínez, feeling that the criticism could have been delivered in private rather than in front of the squad and staff.
Outside the club, the fallout has already reached social media. Fans on X and Facebook are split between defending their manager’s no nonsense style and backing a defender they see as one of the few players who consistently “bleeds for the badge.” The debate has quickly widened into a broader question about Amorim’s man management and how his strict methods are landing in a fragile dressing room.
This is not the first sign of friction during Amorim’s early spell at Old Trafford. Whispers of disagreements over tactics, roles and leadership have surfaced before, though the club has maintained that all voices remain aligned behind the project. Today’s clash, however, is the most public glimpse yet of the tension beneath the surface.
United now head into a crucial run of fixtures with this story swirling around them. All eyes will be on the next team sheet to see whether Martínez starts or finds himself surprisingly rotated. Whatever Amorim decides, he will need to manage the situation carefully to prevent a training ground flashpoint from becoming a full scale rift.
For now, the only certainty is that calm has not fully returned to Carrington. One fierce defender and one demanding coach have collided, and the consequences for Manchester United’s season could depend on how quickly they find a way back onto the same side.
