There has surely never been a greater anti-leadership act in United’s storied history than Fernandes questioning the man who trusts him to unify the dressing room and execute his on-field plan. The Portuguese has proved this faith wrong at the precise moment he was required to step up and exude a defiant togetherness. Nothing could be more dysfunctional than civil war between United’s head coach and captain, featuring Carrick biting back at Fernandes for questioning his tactics as matters hit a new low in the aftermath of Wednesday’s pathetic 4-1 loss to Como.
A litmus test for any leader comes when the storm arrives. At the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium, Fernandes failed miserably, as he squealed about “the staff” deciding the best tactic was not to press Cesc Fàbregas’s bright, emerging team. For “staff” read Carrick because he decides strategy and bears responsibility for performance.
Fernandes is Carrick’s on-field proxy, so his behaviour is the dictionary definition of betrayal. Whether his conduct leads to disciplinary action in the way Lisandro Martínez’s calling out of Jason Wilcox did seems a greyer area. Discussing tactics may be more within Fernandes’s remit, as captain, than a defender suggesting the director of football’s recruitment failed.
Provided there is no damage to the team. But even if Fernandes issues an apology, some acts are irreversible. There is a case for Carrick to strip the 32-year-old of the captaincy and appoint someone such as Harry Maguire or Youri Tielemans.
Carrick is expected to hold his traditional pre-game media conference on Friday afternoon and be in charge for Bournemouth’s visit on Sunday, so when the team is announced whether Fernandes has the armband will intrigue. Could he even drop the playmaker? Whatever the decision, Fernandes can have zero excuse for his Como outburst.
Last week Fernandes witnessed how Martínez’s criticism of Wilcox became an extra headache for Carrick, whose sole focus should have been on arresting the direst start to a campaign since 1986. Instead Carrick had to thrash out the most prudent line of action – Martínez is understood to have been fined – then field questions about the episode from the media. Yet still Fernandes rounded on Carrick after one of United’s poorest displays in continental competition.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
