Martinez's United Outburst, Gerrard’s Wirtz Warning & City’s Title Future | Stick to Football EP 153

The Overlap

Martinez's United outburst, City's financial case and Wirtz's Liverpool struggle: dressing-room trust, league integrity and patience in focus

The episode discusses Lisandro Martinez's public criticism of United's board and sporting director, the impact of Manchester City's financial case on the Premier League and the title race, and Steven Gerrard's defence of Wirtz's potential at Liverpool. The consensus is that Martinez's timing was harmful, City's case needs a swift resolution, and Wirtz deserves support but must improve by the end of the season.

Steven Gerrard joins Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jill Scott for Stick to Football, brought to you by Disney+, as Lisandro Martinez’s comments spark a heated debate about Manchester United. Was Martinez right to call out the club’s hierarchy, or has he undermined his teammates? The panel discuss the fallout, the growing pressure on Michael Carrick and why United need a response against Leeds. Gary also questions the impact of Manchester City’s ongoing charges situation on the Premier League, while Gerrard assesses Florian Wirtz’s struggles at Liverpool and explains why he shouldn’t be written off. 00:00 - Intro 11:01 - Martinez Calls Out United 39:32 - Carrick Under Pressure 47:13 - City Charges Cloud Matchday 56:43 - Wirtz Under Fire 01:05:35 - Super 6 01:15:51 - Community Questions Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger, a Hulu Original film, new and exclusive on Disney+. © 2026 Disney and its related entities. 18+. Subscription required. This episode is sponsored by Super 6. Visit super6.skysports.com for your chance to win. Terms and conditions apply: https://super6.skysports.com/terms The Overlap is on the cover of this month’s FourFourTwo magazine - and we’ve got you a special offer! Use voucher code THEOVERLAP to get 20% off the single issue and subscriptions Visit: https://subscribe.arcade.fourfourtwo.com/uk/fourfourtwo-subscription/dp/8ab7216f?promo=DP39U SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/c/theoverlap STICK TO UNITED WITH WAYNE ROONEY ON THE UNITED STAND https://www.youtube.com/@UnitedStand/videos JOIN THE OVERLAP WHATSAPP CHANNEL HERE https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbC3WQvAYlUCoCqZgA45 SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAP BREAKDOWN CHANNEL HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapBreakdown SUBSCRIBE TO THE OVERLAP NEWSLETTER https://substack.com/@theoverlapnewsletter SUBSCRIBE TO IT WAS WHAT IT WAS PATREON Join here ➡️ www.patreon.com/itwas SUBSCRIBE TO STICK TO RUGBY HERE https://www.youtube.com/@TheOverlapRugby SUBSCRIBE TO THE STICK TO…

Transcript

They're coming in. >> They're coming now, Gary. >> Excellent. >> They're just doing the corridor question. >> The corridor cam. >> Yeah. >> Best front three of all time. >> Do you know something? Best front three of all time. >> Yeah. >> United was Tez, Rooney, Ronaldo. >> Yeah. But I know Liverpool's Firmino, Salah, and Manet. >> Do you reckon it's be that's better than ones before the Liverpool? >> But do you know something? the best front three of all time. >> You got B7. They'll buy him. >> Let's I'm gonna see what they all say when they come in. >> I'm gonna see what they all say when they come in. Show his messy name. >> That's that that's the best run of all time >> easily. >> Yeah, it is. >> Coming on the side. You see that? That's how you have to come in. That's how my uncle used to come into the house. >> What's happening, GeForce? >> Yes. How are we? >> Hey, look at that. >> There you go. >> Oh god, why is my mouth so wide open? I got you on the front cover of 442. >> Thanks, Gary. >> Not not loaded. Not GQ. >> Not Forbes. 442. >> So, who's from 442 here? >> Yeah. But you like that sort of stuff. You know what I mean? It it'll go down well. Don't worry. >> Oh, look. It's lovely. >> I love how them questions Royce is my answers are wrong when it's just an opinion. >> You know the >> Yeah, but Roy doesn't agree with anybody else's opinion. Have you not worked that out in the three? I've worked that out. >> You look at you happy to look at >> Yeah, I like it. But have you seen Jamie's picture? >> What? >> He looks possessed. >> Let's see. >> He is possessed. Have you not? >> Yeah. >> He's a crazy guy. >> It's actually funny. >> Let me see. >> Right. You look a million dollars. >> No, I don't. >> Look at Gary. >> Gary looks so Wow. My mom would be happy. >> Show me. Show me. Show me my pictures. You >> You look good. >> No, not great. >> You look good. >> Not happy. >> Who did you say? Who did you say your second time? >> I said Beckham, Gigs, and Who did you say is your front three? >> Man, Fino Salah. >> Oh, it's not a bad >> You know, you know, I went with >> a little bit of bias going in there. >> I went with Neymar Messi and Suarez. >> It is absolutely ne Messi Neymar Suarez. >> Thank you very much, Gary. >> Yeah. No, I get that. >> It is. It is. >> Thanks, G. You're >> thought I'd be biased. >> I was manager of Valencia when they beat 7 and Messi, Suarez, and Neymar were the front three. and he left them on the whole game. I think he might have brought one of them off a couple of minutes before the end. I have never seen speed and connection and combinations and attacking play like it ever. And to be fair, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tez for a period were like devastating on counterattacks. >> You know, I saw the other day as well, I saw some link up with um Messi magnificent. >> Yeah. >> Great. Barcelona team was scary, a wy. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, it was. >> You forgetting international teams. Brazil in the 70s or 82. Was it Ronaldo? Ronaldo and >> this is what I said. I tried to >> That question a bit more respect. >> Yeah, because it's too quick. I said that to him. I said now I'm going to have to go over the top of my head. >> Yeah, but it is quick fire. >> So I I get up at4 to 4 in the morning. >> Oh, there you go. >> And I get a voice note and I'm like that's weird. That That's not right. 10 3 in the morning. I thought something's really bad happened there. >> I can't I'm sorry, Ste. >> No, it's No, no, no. >> We left him short. It was eventful. It was eventful. It's the probably the worst nightmare you'd have once you >> I' known that I wouldn't have slept. >> But did you definitely mean you got a spare room for me if it happens again? >> Yes, sir. >> Y absolutely. >> You know what? You should have phon me on a 2 minutes, right? >> You know what I said to Jill? I had a period like a 30 second period and thinking car's going to jump out here or me on like a you've been what it made or pumped or >> but yeah 20 minutes and he told me there's >> the company getting too big too fast. >> Oh. Oh. And they start forgetting about the little details. Walk on my tank. >> Yes, Roy, you're right. >> It's nothing to do with that. >> Wow. You know something? I was thinking, what's going >> Exactly. So, basically, right, Royy's interpreted, right? So, basically, someone's not showing up at a hotel till 3:30 in the morning. The hotel then get to 12:00. They get someone offering them the final room and they go, "G, we'll take it. He's not he's not coming." Yeah. Well, probably more. You can probably get a lot more at that time of morning. So sometimes your best rates you get in a hotel is when someone comes in a little bit drunk and says, "Have you got a room left?" And you say, "Yeah, but we've only got one left for £1,000." And they pay it. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And hotels do that and they've sold your room thinking you're not turning up. And that's I guarantee that. >> That's okay, by the way. That's fine. That happens to probably a lot of people. >> But I stood there for 20 minutes >> and he's messing with his new mouse and he's going dick tick. Like you on your advert, you know, when you're tapping the phone, >> the fella's doing this with the mouse and clicking the button. You know, it's like it's like that advert where you see where >> he goes to me, can I just take your deposit and I'm I'm >> Why are you paying for it though? >> Exactly. Had any extras on the room. >> Me mate does the same with the other guy. >> You know, it's like >> No, but somebody who booked your room should have said he's going to be getting late. >> I've got I've got the confirmation and it says on the confirmation late arrival. >> No, >> late arrival. It said late arrival. >> We debunked everything. Late arrival. Come late on. We've actually got a full apology for treatments I get in Manchester in it. >> Was it under your name? >> Wow, it's terrible. My name was >> They've got PREVIOUS you come. This is your bag. Kieran, here you come. This is your game. >> Got I take personal responsibility. >> Remember Remember you dragged me to Geneva somewhere? We done a little gig. >> Oh yeah. It's true. That Yeah. Wasn't me. The hotel. >> It was my hotel room, wasn't it? It was my room. Yours was booked. It was mine. >> Oh no. You swapped over. The prince was one of the rooms. There was only one room. >> Yeah, it was my room. Yeah. >> What happened that time? >> This has got I'm out here. >> I'm not doing >> Oh my gosh, >> Kieran. Yeah, it we did. We did. >> We did everything. They even emailed back saying >> we know he's coming late. >> Just I was I was in Sicily two weeks ago >> and no word of all. I won't mention the airline. They over booked by it was a problem because Mount Etnner erupted. So basically they were pushing everyone to different airports. There were they over booked by 31 people. >> Wow. >> There were 31 people. >> That's not right, is it? >> Oh my god. They all but the fly with 31 people. >> The best part of the final story anyway is they didn't have a house key. So when I drove an hour back to Liverpool didn't have a house key. >> Knock someone. >> Oh, how did that go? >> Where's your voice? No. >> He slept in the garden. >> Is that usually bother? Oh no. I had that on a flight before and it was just me and a girl and they were like only one of you can go and I felt so bad and we were just waiting to see which name came up on the computer and it was mine and if I hadn't had to be back for work I would have let her go. >> So you let you left it behind you. >> I wouldn't. >> Yeah. Well, I wasn't I didn't know. >> I didn't know. I did feel bad. What's this girl? >> But why did they overbook them? Why did they do that? So basically um Oh, it was the Katana the airport. It you couldn't fly from there. So there's another airport in Sicy called Polmo and there's other ones on the Italian mainland. And so what they've done is everybody going back to England or everywhere was being diverted to different sort of airports and they literally just overbook you >> and there was an American woman knowing she would not move at the front. She said, "I'm getting on this flight. It got cancelceled." Yes. She was going crazy and I felt sorry for her. But I said to her, >> stressful, isn't it? >> I said she was number like 18 in the queue out of 31. And I said, "You're just not going to get on it." I don't know what to do. >> Did you get on yours? I I believe it or not, I got a seat booked. If you didn't have a seat booked, you were done. >> Yeah. It said assigned seat at the desk or whatever on her ticket and she was done. >> Traveling get more stress traveling >> saying I went to No, I went to Paris. >> Call me airport Steve. Call me airport. Steve get stressed. >> Honestly, the Euro stuff. >> I get I get angry and stressed. >> I saw a picture of you the other day. >> I need to get that out. Actually, >> what is it? >> Seen it. So what you want me to do about exactly right >> I know why you looking me up at number what's up cuz you didn't tell me bro they've got there's a gist of it >> no I >> the guy was a pest >> oh is this something Yeah I saw they posted it and said that Roy Ke weren't happy or something experience >> his face experience >> see what's funny about that what am I supposed to do a dance for people >> you need glasses you need extra players. You're watching Shoutton. Oh, Lord. I'm like, why you shot my name for? Just come over >> and another 10. Come over. >> Here we go. He was He knew that. He knew what game he was playing. I spotted Kino in Cork airport. Ranted ranted. Ranted at me calling him Mr. Keen out loud >> cuz quote, "Don't you think I'm trying to be discreet wearing a [ __ ] cap?" >> So, I don't swore. I don't think >> then ended up being then ended up being two rows in front of me on the flight. >> Exactly. And and then take a picture of you on the flight. >> Is that what he did? Is that on the flight? >> No. >> The other picture, the little picture, the >> one where you can see his hat, the head in the hat. >> No, that's poor on that. >> How does that guy see if you do that though in the Middle East? >> You're done. >> Big trouble. >> Wow. >> Big trouble. >> What's a picture of someone? When I first arrived in Saudi, know when you put your little small bags through the extra layer of security. Guy takes a slight picture. Weak week in jail at the airport for security. We need rules like that. >> Wow. >> We need straight >> to stop to stop this. >> Gosh. >> Yeah. Not a week. 10 years in prison for >> That's quite strange. >> No, but the guy wanted >> righty little sad happening, wasn't it, this week? Arsenal. You know something terrible news Ken Frier I remember when I um obviously he's been there story Ken Fry been there what since he was 12 he started working at Arsenal 92 he died rest his soul 80 years you know he was the one that um used to take me to the to the hearings you know the disciplinary hearings you know what I mean he's >> he was busy >> he was very busy um but like I remember when I first signed and he was telling me what I can achieve here if I if I just behave myself in the Arsenal way cuz everything about him was steeped in Arsenal. And I remember he'd come with me and afterwards I get fined and and he'd always give me a a Wors you know Worerver's mint say don't worry about it just keep doing just keep playing where you come. >> He's a club secretary right now. >> He was yeah when he started yeah he started in the ticket office right and he built all the way forward. >> We've heard his name mentioned >> you know something he is one of the great he's one of those people in a football club that's been a football club and everything that's the football club is steeped in his that's what he represents. >> So for someone like him to go is it's devastating news to a lot of people. Amazing man. >> He put a great tribute on last night. >> Oh, it's fant. Honestly, what he what he means to the club. Yeah. What he means to the club is very hard to try and put into words. >> Yeah. >> So, we're going to start with Manchester United. Only Manchester United could drag Manchester City off the top. We can't talk about the city owners are hoping that someone from United do take the deflection of >> we've grabbed defeat from victory. >> I mean, we're going to go straight to we might as well just start with Landro Martin as his comments last night. Um should a player I mean the fans this morning Manchester United fans a lot of them are happy that he's spoken out because it's the sort a lot of their feelings that the top don't invest enough that the players uh the squad isn't strong enough so they're supportive of it are we supportive of it from a point of view from a different aspect from a players point of view a coach's point of view >> it's unhelpful >> it's unhelpful I would say >> you know what you know what I was I was I was gonna say right it depends on on his motives. Why why do it now for a start? You know, even if there was you can try and who you going to sign in January, you know, United are going to need to do well this season so as they can buy players in the summer which going to be tough for them anyway because they're going to have to they're going to need to get into the Champions League so you can attract that player. But I can't understand why in October you're saying something when nothing can change. >> What's what's the benefit of him doing this? Now you look at him and you think to yourself, if he's that person, there's two ways I think it can it can it can pan out. if he's that person that right, I want to dig in. I want to play for United. They stuck behind me. I've been injured for over 100 games and they stuck with me. I'm going to be one of those players that stays on the journey that brings United back. So, when you look at somebody who's up at the end of the season, he's saying something like it's almost like throwing in throwing in a grenade. Like I say, there's two scenarios for him here. Either he's going to stay and help United through or he's going to go. I don't know why and what the benefit of him coming out and saying that. Now, as much of course the fans are going to love it, it's everything the fans want to hear from a player leader in the in the in the dressing room, World Cup winner talking about stuff like that. What stuff that they are >> What right have we got to say what a player should and shouldn't say? >> No, I'm not saying what we should. >> I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I'm just saying that's what that's what players do. He comes out with it or doing it on the TV live after games are going to do on social media. Who we to say that what players can and can't say. >> There'd be some fans thinking it's great. There'd be other fans saying, "No, you're letting the team down." Particularly a player who's not been at his very best. the team is struggling. He's only played 80 games himself. >> But Stevie said, "What's the, you know, for somebody like >> Yeah, I get it. I don't but I I don't see the benefits." But also, I look the other way and go if a player wants to get something off his chest >> who we to sit there and go players can't say and because the modern player, they seem to if they don't do it on the TV, they'll do it through different avenues, social media, to their agents. But that's devastating last night, Roy, isn't it, for the club? >> It's not Yeah, it's not good news for the club. >> Just just let you question. if you're the manager, if you're Michael Carrick now and you obviously have got a player who's criticized the board, um he's criticized the sporting director, but the thing >> he criticized the players on Michael, don't >> No, but he has. And this is the big problem I do have with it. So, I have a problem with it. When when Wayne Rooney made a statement back in 2010 where he said that basically the club weren't ambitious enough around signing players. >> To me, that is a direct criticism of his teammate saying that they're not good enough because he they should be signing more players. So when Landro Martinez says, so I've got a problem with it from a players perspective. We made to be fair me and Giggy spoke with W the morning after he apologized to all the players and he apologized publicly cuz we said why are we not good enough in the dressing room? Do you not think we're good enough to win the league? Now obviously he was talking about what the club about ambition to sign new players. That is a direct attack on the players that you're playing with. So when Martinez says they should have brought more players in, he's directly attacking his teammates. So if I was a player this morning, if I was Bruno Fernandez and I was Harry McGuire and the other senior players, I'd be absolutely fuming with him because you're saying basically saying that some of us shouldn't be here and we should be bringing more players in. That's what I think he's saying. >> Do you think it was premeditated? Because I think William was talking yesterday and he said that he thinks cuz I was having a cup of tea and I was actually shocked when he did the interview because I thought it was an opportunity. I thought Man United actually played all right to be honest. They missed a few opportunities in the first half and he said it was a really poor performance and >> because I just thought it wasn't the right timing to do that. I think it just puts more heat on the club. It's very unusual to have a go I've never heard ever to be fair. I can't think of one. >> I've never really heard him speak. >> No, but I've never heard a player ever have a go at a sporting director before. Usually the owners or sometimes their own players or the manager. I've never heard him have a go at a sporting director. That tells me that the senior players are talking about itself as as a group. I'm >> just thinking it doesn't help Michael on the eve of playing leads at the weekend. It it it's more negative me. It tells me that they're not aligned as a club. >> I think a reflection club obviously chaos there turn into a bit of a circus. >> But at the same time, I agree a little bit with Roy where sometimes if a player comes and does an interview and it's robotic and he just says straight back to every question, we say, you know, >> they're not honest enough, the boring blah blah. I admire the fact that he's tried to be honest and open. He's actually tried to protect Michael Kartah in a way, but he's made a big mess. >> The first thing you do after when you go through a difficult spell at United, the issue I have with certain players saying certain things, we go you always have to sat with the man in the mirror. Are the are these lads on the top of their game? Sometimes you say that when you won a few games ago, we could have had a stronger squad. We could have maybe but when you're on the back of some defeats and they're struggling and all the stats aren't good for them just that's again >> I also think I also think it's a comment for behind the scenes in it. If you're really thinking that and it's hurting you that much just go and see Jason Wilcox or go and see Jim Rackliff. Go and speak to him behind closed doors and just get it off your chest. >> Might be a soft and this has come from a player who's only played 80 games for Man United. He's not played three four 500 games. You go, well, do you know what is okay? He gives a go away every week. >> Well, obviously that's on top of it. That's on top of all the where he's come from. You go, listen, that's where I go look at the man in the mirror before we start coming up with all these comments. >> Go back to at least start playing well yourself. >> Thank you. >> So that's yeah, I think there's two things. One, should he say it? And is it helpful? I think and then there is there is motiv I don't think we disagree with the words he said because actually we all thoug