Carrick will be prepared to be quizzed on Martinez outburst

Michael Carrick swerved answering questions about Lisandro Martinez's post-match outburst in Madrid on Tuesday by saying he hadn't seen the actual comments.

United officials then applied a stern 'matter is dealt with now' to requests on Thursday night for clarification on Martinez's apology.

Carrick could use that guidance when he gets questions on Martinez in his news conference before Sunday's trip to Leeds United - but that won't stop him getting peppered.

For example, given Martinez apologised for the manner in which he said what he said rather than the actual words, presumably his general view still stands.

Interestingly, given Ayden Heaven being used at left-back while Luke Shaw, Noussair Mazraoui and Patrick Dorgu were all out injured is said to be a major reason for Martinez's outburst, it is worth noting sources have said the 20-year-old tended to be used in that role at Arsenal more often than he was in central defence. Carrick did have the option of playing Diogo Dalot there instead, with Leny Yoro at right-back, so there must have been a tactical reason for the decision.

United feels as though it is in a mess at the moment. Five games without a win is their worst run since a run of six games without a victory at the end of the 2018-19 season following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's permanent appointment as manager.

Carrick really needs to be focused on sorting that out at Leeds on Sunday, in what is sure to be a hostile atmosphere at Elland Road.

I suspect he will spend rather more time than he would want dealing with the fall-out from Martinez's comments when he faces the media later on Friday.