Steven Gerrard Slams Lisandro Martinez, Tells Man United Defender to ‘Shut Your Mouth and Defend’

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has criticised Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez over his recent comments about the club, accusing the Argentine of making an already difficult situation worse.
Gerrard said Martinez should focus on his performances on the pitch instead of publicly criticising the club’s hierarchy, particularly amid growing scrutiny of Manchester United’s struggles.
Speaking on the latest episode of The Overlap, the former England midfielder acknowledged that Martinez may have been trying to protect interim manager Michael Carrick by speaking openly about the club’s problems. However, he argued that the defender’s remarks had only created further controversy.
Gerrard suggested that Martinez’s comments indicated that senior players had been discussing the club’s situation among themselves. While he praised the defender’s willingness to be honest, he questioned the decision to air those concerns publicly.
“I admire the fact that he’s tried to be honest and open. He’s actually tried to protect Michael Carrick in a way, but he’s made a bigger mess,” Gerrard said.
The former Liverpool captain also referred to Martinez’s defensive error involving Dominic Solanke, arguing that the Argentine had not shown the same willingness to speak out after making a mistake on the pitch.
“He never said this after Tottenham when he made the mistake with Solanke, did he? Just shut your mouth and defend,” Gerrard added.
Martinez’s comments came after Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid on Tuesday. The defender had criticised the club’s hierarchy over what he viewed as a lack of investment in new signings capable of improving the squad during the summer transfer window.
The exchange adds to the pressure surrounding Manchester United as questions continue over the team’s performances, recruitment strategy and leadership. Gerrard’s criticism also highlights the debate over whether senior players should publicly challenge club management or concentrate on resolving problems through their performances.