Wilcox retains the support of the club’s senior leadership following Martínez’s outspoken comments after United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atlético Madrid on Tuesday.
The Times reports that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe continues to hold the director of football in high regard, with no indication that Wilcox’s position is under immediate threat.
Ratcliffe attended the match in Madrid, where Manchester United conceded inside the opening minute before Leny Yoro’s dismissal compounded their problems. Ademola Lookman scored Atlético’s second goal as Michael Carrick’s side suffered another damaging result.
Martínez used his post-match interviews to question the club’s recruitment strategy, arguing that the squad had not been strengthened sufficiently to compete with Europe’s leading teams. He specifically called for greater investment and criticised the work of the technical director.
“I expect more [investment], 100 per cent. I expect more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox],” the Argentine defender said.
He also insisted that the responsibility for United’s difficulties should not fall solely on the manager and players.
“Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas,” Martínez added.
United spent heavily on midfield reinforcements during the summer, bringing in Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. However, the club did not add the defensive cover and attacking options that some observers believed were required.
Injuries have further exposed those weaknesses, leaving Carrick with limited choices in several positions. The defeat in Madrid intensified the debate over whether the club’s recruitment decisions had left the manager with a squad capable of sustaining a challenge across multiple competitions.
Despite the criticism, Wilcox is understood to retain the backing of Ratcliffe and the wider leadership. The club’s transfer planning is continuing, with the next summer window expected to be a significant opportunity to address shortcomings in the squad.
Martínez’s comments have reportedly reflected frustrations shared by other senior players, although the club has not publicly indicated any change in its position on Wilcox.
United must now focus on their next fixture against Leeds United, with Carrick under pressure to improve results while the debate over recruitment continues.
For Wilcox, the immediate challenge is to maintain the confidence of the hierarchy and demonstrate that the club’s long-term strategy can deliver the squad improvements required. For United, the priority remains turning a difficult start into a more consistent campaign.