Martinez speaks out after defeat
Lisandro Martinez recently made an unusual post-match appearance with Amazon Prime after Manchester United suffered a 2-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid. The defender questioned the club's ambition in the transfer market and pointed fingers at the hierarchy.
Martinez stated that he expects more from the technical director. He pointed out that managers keep changing at the club, but asked what happens in other areas. While players often criticize their own performances or blame the manager, Martinez directed his frustration upstairs toward the decision makers.
The rise of the sporting director
Public scrutiny in football used to fall squarely on the manager. In past decades, figures like Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger controlled everything at their clubs. Over time, English football adopted the continental model of appointing sporting directors and technical directors to handle recruitment and squad building.
Foreign owners and foreign coaches helped cement this new structure across the Premier League. Today, every Premier League club employs a senior sporting executive, yet these individuals almost never face the media to explain their decisions. Tradition and media culture have kept them hidden behind the manager.
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