Bruno Fernandes' comments after Manchester United's humbling by Como have got fans and pundits talking - but what now for the captain? United's 4-1 Champions League defeat in Italy was the result of a wretched performance and Fernandes questioned boss Michael Carrick's tactics. "It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence," said the Portugal attacking midfielder on TNT Sports.
Asked if Carrick got his tactics wrong, the 32-year-old continued: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me." Fernandes rounds on Carrick after Man Utd humiliation Man Utd humbling by Como leaves Carrick job in danger Not according to former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher, working as a summariser, on CBS Sports. "He's reacted like that because he's been embarrassed by the manager [who] brought him off," said the ex-England defender. "And when he talks about pressing, whether it's man-to-man or zonal, for years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press because he does things for the crowd.
"He runs all over the place like a kid in the schoolyard for the supporters. They all think he's working hard. He's killing the rest of the team doing it." He added: "Watching him throw his arms up every week in a game is an absolute disgrace [and] calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch.
"[It's an] awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should be." Fernandes' comments come a week after defender Lisandro Martinez made similar headlines following United's previous Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid. The Argentine said he expected more investment in the squad and "more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]". And while Martinez's outburst sparked debate, Fernandes' comments could have even larger repercussions.
Carrick, who was under huge pressure already following a terrible start to the season, said in reply: "There's a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win." United have not won in their past seven games since beating Champions League minnows Sabah. They have just one win in their seven Premier League games this season. Not many people have defended Fernandes' public questioning of the tactics.
But some do understand his frustrations. Former Leicester and Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel, whose dad Peter won the Champions League, five Premier League titles and three FA Cups as a United player, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Given last week and what's happened, he probably should not be saying these things because it's only going to add to the problems. "With experience you learn that you need to keep these things in-house.
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