Dictatorship at Manchester United? Players banned from speaking to the press
The silence around Manchester United is becoming a story of its own.
Details: Following Manchester United's 1-1 Premier League draw with Leeds, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha reportedly declined requests to speak to journalists in the mixed zone at Elland Road. Both players indicated that they were not permitted to give interviews, with Fernandes telling reporters:
"I can't speak, I'm not allowed"
Cunha reportedly gave a similar explanation to a Brazilian journalist.
The episode immediately attracted attention because it came only days after Lisandro Martinez's explosive public criticism of the Manchester United hierarchy. Following the 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, the Argentine defender questioned the club's summer recruitment and openly expressed his frustration with the squad's depth.
Martinez later apologised for the timing and manner of his remarks after talks with club officials and was reportedly fined. That sequence of events has fuelled theories among supporters that United have tightened control over players' media appearances to avoid another public controversy. At the same time, reports indicate that the club's press officers had not issued a specific blanket order banning players from speaking to the written press, leaving the exact scope of the restriction unclear.
It is worth noting that Manchester United have collected only seven points from their opening seven Premier League matches and sit 13th in the table. The draw with Leeds also extended their winless run in all competitions to six consecutive games, with only one league victory recorded so far this season.
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Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
