Lisandro Martínez found himself at the centre of a media storm last week after he criticised the club's hierarchy in an explosive post-match interview, saying the club had left head coach Michael Carrick with an under-equipped squad following Manchester United's 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid.

After talks with United towards the end of last week, the 28-year-old released a second statement claiming positive conversations were held with the club's leadership and the manager and promptly apologised for his outburst.

Martínez was also formally fined, but wasn't excluded from United's travelling squad for the trip to Elland Road, as some speculated.

Instead, the former Ajax centre-back started for Michael Carrick and was part of a five-man defence that went toe-to-toe with Leeds in the opening exchanges of the fierce encounter, as both sides traded strong challenges.

Manchester United handled Leeds' attacks well in the first half, as the United defence did well to clear many of the threats levied against them with Leny Yoro in particular doing very well to be in the right place at the right time to clear the majority of the home side's crosses into the box.

United went into the break a goal up, but when the sides emerged for the second 45 minutes, Martínez did not return to the pitch, with Noussair Mazraoui replacing the Argentinian centre-back.

Speaking post-match, Michael Carrick revealed that the United star was substituted after the first half because he "He felt his thigh a little bit."

While it remains to be seen if this is a serious issue, Martínez was seen hobbling around the pitch towards the end of the half, so his substitution was likely a precautionary one as United await an assessment of whether the Argentinian could be set for another spell on the sidelines, which has unfortunately been a common occurrence since joining the club.

While the amount is unknown, being punished with just a fine after such a public outburst against the club is fairly lenient, considering Rúben Amorim was sacked after similar comments regarding a lack of January signings in a post-match interview, ironically after a 1-1 draw against Leeds at Elland Road.

One would expect the Argentinian to face a much harsher punishment, but given the limited options Michael Carrick had at his disposal, perhaps he had no choice but to start the 28-year-old, which may go to show that his post-match assessment of the club's lack of transfer business was right.

The only centre-back on the bench against Leeds was Matthijs de Ligt, who will not be ready to start games yet after a significant period sidelined with a back injury, meaning it was right-back Mazraoui who was brought on for Martínez at half-time.

With Ayden Heaven sidelined by illness, and Leny Yoro deputising at right-back, Diogo Dalot fills in at left-back for Luke Shaw, the club's only senior option, who was injured during the side's 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur.