Bruno Fernandes will remain as Manchester United captain and will not be disciplined for his post-match criticism of Michael Carrick following the 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como. The United skipper questioned Carrick’s tactics and said it was up to the head coach and his backroom team, rather than the players, to identify problems and make changes.
Externally, the comments were seen by many as a challenge to Carrick’s authority, coming only eight days after defender Lisandro Martinez criticised director of football Jason Wilcox and the club’s summer recruitment. Inside Old Trafford, however, there is sympathy for Fernandes over the position he found himself in. The Portugal midfielder conducted 10 post-match interviews in Como despite being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee midway through the second half. While there is disappointment at some of his remarks, it is acknowledged that his annoyance was understandable given the manner of a loss described as one of the worst in United’s European history.
It remains to be seen whether Fernandes will be selected for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Carrick is due to be asked about the situation at his pre-match news conference at 13:30 BST on Friday. He will be in charge for the Bournemouth game despite intense speculation that he is on the brink of dismissal following United’s worst run of form since 2015-16.
Former United striker Wayne Rooney said he was in shock and disbelief at the performance against Como and was as worried as he has been for a long time about the situation at Old Trafford. While he understood the questioning of Carrick, Rooney called the players selfish and said they were “like babies” after the controversial comments from Martinez and Fernandes. “When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart,” Rooney said. “That was the start. We’ve seen it now with Bruno and you’re going to see it with more players because they don’t want to take responsibility.”
Rooney added that players had to take responsibility on the pitch and as a group. He said Fernandes was putting pressure on someone else because he did not want to face the situation, and argued that if Fernandes, Martinez and the rest looked in the mirror they would find their own performances were not good enough. Rooney also called on the United board to provide clarity on Carrick’s future, saying Carrick needed to “come out fighting” and that “there’s no more Mr Nice Guy”.
Fernandes’ form has dipped markedly from last season, when he was named PFA and FWA Player of the Year and broke the Premier League record for assists in a single season.