According to a report by Metro on Monday, November 2, 2026, former Arsenal winger Freddie Ljungberg has strongly criticised Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez following the club’s 2-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

Ljungberg took aim at the Argentina international over his conduct after being sent off at Stamford Bridge, accusing the defender of letting manager Michael Carrick down through his actions.

Martinez was shown a second yellow card in the 63rd minute after catching Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana with a raised arm. His dismissal left Manchester United with 10 players while they were already trailing 1-0.

Chelsea capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Cole Palmer converting the resulting penalty to make it 2-0. Morgan Rogers had earlier given the home side the lead after breaking through United’s defence and lifting the ball over goalkeeper Senne Lammens.

Speaking after the game, Ljungberg said he felt sorry for Carrick, who has come under increasing pressure following Manchester United’s poor performances and disappointing results.

"I feel, when I look at that, I feel sorry for Michael Carrick," the former Arsenal star said.

The Swede was particularly frustrated by Martinez’s red card and suggested that the defender had developed a habit of making unnecessary mistakes during matches.

"How they behave, Martinez doing what he did, I was there and I felt a bit sick," he added.

Ljungberg also accused the Argentine of making poor decisions without considering the impact of his actions on the rest of the team.

"I've seen this quite a few times when he does stupid things, doesn't think about the team first. They let him down," Ljungberg stated.

However, Carrick refused to publicly criticise Martinez when asked whether the defender had let him down.

The Manchester United manager simply answered "No" during an interview with TNT Sports, although he acknowledged that the dismissal played a major role in the defeat.

"It has a major importance on the game. A huge moment," Carrick said.

The loss has increased the pressure on Carrick, with Manchester United sitting 17th in the Premier League table on seven points after nine matches. They are above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

United have also gone nine matches without a victory in all competitions, having managed just two wins in their opening 13 games of the campaign.

Carrick will now turn his attention to Tuesday’s Champions League meeting with Roma at Old Trafford before his side host Aston Villa in the Premier League. United will then travel to face Liverpool after the international break.

Reports suggest that Manchester United’s hierarchy have privately agreed to give Carrick the next two matches before reviewing his position during the international break.

When asked whether he would remain in charge for the Roma fixture, Carrick confirmed: "Yes."

With results continuing to disappoint, the manager will be hoping his players can produce a quick response, particularly after Ljungberg’s comments raised further concerns about discipline and decision-making within the squad.