Video: Man Utd players barred from interviews after leeds draw

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and forward Matheus Cunha said they were “not allowed” to speak to reporters after Sunday’s 1-1 Premier League draw at Leeds United, in what appears to be a club-imposed media restriction following Lisandro Martínez’s public criticism of the hierarchy.

Video: Manchester United players barred from interviews after Leeds draw after Martínez outburst

Fernandes, walking through the mixed zone at Elland Road, told waiting journalists: “I can’t speak; I’m not allowed.”

Cunha gave a similar response to a Brazilian reporter, indicating that players had been prevented from giving post-match interviews.

United were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds, extending their winless run to six matches and intensifying scrutiny of the squad and club leadership, Dailyeconomy reports.

While Harry Maguire was reported to have carried out the mandatory broadcast interviews with rights holders and MUTV, Fernandes and Cunha bypassed the written-press mixed zone after indicating they had been told not to speak.

The restrictions followed Martínez’s explosive interview after United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atlético Madrid on October 13.

The Argentina defender criticised the club’s summer recruitment and said he expected more from the hierarchy, including technical director Jason Wilcox.

“We have many games and we have to rotate players and for me we don’t have the best squad at the moment compared with other top teams,” Martínez said, adding that he expected more from the club.

Martínez was fined for the remarks and later apologised after talks with chief executive Omar Berrada, head coach Michael Carrick and other club officials.

He was nevertheless included in the squad for the Leeds match.