Gary Neville believes that Lisandro Martinez’s attack on the Manchester United hierarchy actually clicked the Red Devils back into gear.

United drew 1-1 away at Leeds on Sunday, as Bryan Mbeumo’s opener was cancelled out by Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s equaliser at Elland Road.

The stalemate extends Michael Carrick’s side’s winless run to six games, and they sit 13th in the Premier League table at the end of the weekend.

Martinez took aim at director of football Jason Wilcox in a fiery criticism of United’s recruitment strategy after their 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, which was promptly followed by double-downs on CBS Sports and on social media the following day.

The Argentine then apologised on Thursday after a meeting with Omar Berrada, the club CEO, and Carrick, with it being reported that the defender had been fined for his indiscretion.

Now, however, Neville, the United legend, has said that the former Ajax centre-back’s comments have actually helped his old employers.

“99 times out of 100 you could never really point towards those comments helping anybody,” he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.

“He’s launched into the ownership, the technincal director, he’s effectively, without saying it, criticised his team-mates and the squad, which you do directly when you say that you’ve not added enough quality.

“That in turn puts pressure on the manager. You can’t say after those comments that they are helpful, they’re not. Fans liked them, and no-one disagreed with anything he said, but I’ve been in a dressing room where people have made comments like that and it’s not helpful, and you feel let down.

“He’s come out and apologised, and that dressing room did need spiking. It needed a right rocket up its backside after that woeful performance against Tottenham.”

United’s next match comes against Como in the Champions League in midweek, to follow on from their draw at Leeds, where Martinez was subbed at half time.

Carrick revealed that the Argentina international was struggling with a thigh problem, and he was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui.