Michael Carrick insists Man United have 'moved on' from Lisandro Martinez's 'mistake' - and claims squad is in a 'fantastic place' despite defender's explosive rant at club chiefs

Michael Carrick believes Lisandro Martinez 'realised he has made a mistake' over his extraordinary outburst in Madrid, and insists the controversy will not distract Manchester United from turning their season around.

Martinez will be in United's squad to face Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday after he apologised for criticising director of football Jason Wilcox and club bosses in a television interview which landed the 28-year-old defender with a fine.

Carrick, who was in the meeting with Martinez and Wilcox at Carrington on Thursday, said: 'You're after some kind of big information about big discussions, but it was pretty simple.

'We all understood the situation and what it meant. Lisandro obviously made his statement, and he acknowledges that it was a mistake from him, and that was it really. It's really not a drama for us as a group. We've genuinely moved on.

'From our point of view, the acknowledgement of what's been done has certainly been enough. He's released his statement and he's realised he's made a mistake. I think that's enough for all of us to move on with. We're definitely not looking back at it now.'

Former United captain Wayne Rooney claimed that Martinez’s criticism of United’s transfer policy in the summer could rip the dressing-room apart, but Carrick believes his team’s performance in a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid – and the mood in training over the last two days – suggest the opposite is true.

Man United boss Michael Carrick has given his verdict on Lisandro Martinez's explosive rant

Martinez ripped into United's hierarchy on TV after their defeat by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday

'The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I've seen it for a while actually,' added the United boss.

'We're living it every day, we know what it feels like. We're emotional, we're passionate, we care a lot. Sometimes someone says something that maybe they shouldn't say at a certain time, but that doesn't distract us from what we're creating here and the environment and the spirit within the group.

'It's not affected. I'm telling you as it is. We're in a good place, and I'm really happy with the boys today.

'Results-wise, it hasn't gone to plan of late, but today was one of the best training sessions we've had. You can see there's a real sense and a feeling within the group that we want to do something about this situation.

'There's a lot of things can affect the group in all sorts of different ways. Certain situations can galvanise the group, and it's certainly galvanised the group as this week's progressed.'

Carrick also suggested that emotion got the better of Amad Diallo after the Ivorian posted a message on Tuesday night, saying 'f***ing disgrace, I have no words'.

'Again, it's a situation where there's ways of doing it,' said Carrick. 'In one way, it shows the boys care an awful lot. But yes, of course, there are ways of doing it as part of learning a little bit. I think we've just got to show that emotion in the right manner and channel it in the right manner.

'We ask for passion, we ask for emotion, we ask for fire, and we ask for players to care. There's a way of doing that. As a group, we've got to use it in the right way.'

Carrick desperately needs a reaction from his players at Elland Road after a run of four defeats and two wins in nine games this season has put him under pressure.

Old rivals Leeds will be relishing the chance to pile on more misery, but Carrick said: 'I don't need results, we all need results. It's not about me. Manchester United is a lot bigger than any individual: bigger than me, bigger than any player or anyone else who works at this football club.

'I don't go into every day at work in this situation thinking about me. It's about the football club: what we stand for, what we live for, the history, the things that we need to live up to, and that's what drives us.

'So whatever is best for the football club and for the team on Sunday is the most important thing. It's a great rivalry. There's big history between the football clubs, and I think that's what makes these type of games special.

'You've got to embrace the history, you've got to embrace what it means, and you've got to embrace the past of certain games that are a little bit different. This is certainly one of them, and we'll be ready for it.'

United technical director Jason Wilcox (left) was on the receiving end of Martinez's anger

Martinez had taken aim at the United hierarchy in the wake of a fourth defeat in nine games in Madrid when he was asked if the club have backed Carrick enough.

'I don't think so,' he said. 'He does his best. You can't keep changing, changing, changing the manager.

'What about other areas? Tonight it is easy to say the coach and easy to say the players, but also we have to see other areas.

'I expect more (investment) 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director. 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.

'I have to control myself a lot but sometimes is a reflection of the mirror of how is our club at the moment.'

On Thursday evening, after talks with United, Martinez shared a social media post apologising.

'Today I met with the club's leadership and the manager,' he said: 'It was a very positive conversation, where we were able to exchange views and speak openly about what happened after Tuesday's game.

'Everyone knows that I am a passionate person and that I live football with great intensity.

'The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise.'