Manchester United have had a turbulent start to the season – they have recorded two wins from nine games so far this term, and the performances have too often mirrored that form.

Tottenham on Saturday was the start of what many fans felt was a make-or-break month for Michael Carrick and his men. That contest ended 1-1, and if the visitors had been more clinical, it could have been a very different scoreline.

The most alarming aspect, though, was again the performance. No tempo, imagination or intensity was there for all to see once more. It is damning that those words all encapsulate a United performance, and it is not for the first time this season, either.

Next up came a different assignment away to Atletico Madrid, in the cauldron that is the Metropolitano, conducted from the touchline by the ever-combustible Diego Simeone.

Instead of the performance coming into question, though, it was the incompetence of the board.

Martínez certainly did not hold back after the defeat. When questioned about United’s lack of summer investment, he said: “I expect more from our technical director.”

He then turned his attention to Carrick’s future, questioning the club’s constant managerial changes. He said: “You can’t keep changing, changing, changing the manager. What about other areas? I can’t say more.”

Unsurprisingly, his comments have divided opinion. Wayne Rooney branded them “disrespectful”, while Jamie Carragher was also critical, and some supporters will share that view. Martínez has hardly covered himself in glory this season, either.

He would not be the first to suffer the consequences of speaking out. Ralf Rangnick, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ruben Amorim have all publicly questioned aspects of the club before eventually leaving, and Martínez will likely follow a similar fate.

But the message shouldn't be lost because of the messenger. Fans have protested United's ownership for years, most recently through #BoycottUnited, which targeted the club’s commercial partners.

A senior player voicing those frustrations from inside the dressing room carries a different weight. For once, Martínez shifted the spotlight away from another manager and toward the decision-makers above him.

Having secured Champions League football with a third-place finish last season, United had the perfect opportunity to build on that progress.

Instead, only three first-team additions arrived over the summer: Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, all of whom operate in midfield. Despite spending £155 million, the club left other areas of the squad neglected.

That failure was laid bare in Madrid. Injuries to Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo forced Carrick to make changes, with Ayden Heaven deployed in an unnatural left-back role.

That is not to question Heaven's ability. He is a talented young player who deserves opportunities, particularly at a club where the adage ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ has long been synonymous.

Ultimately, the responsibility for that lies with the people above Carrick. United knew the additional demands Champions League football would bring, yet failed to strengthen the squad sufficiently. It is hard to expect the manager to deliver consistent results when his tools remain limited, which is why Martínez’s criticism of the hierarchy carries weight.