Manchester United have decided that Bruno Fernandes will retain his role as club captain and face no disciplinary action following his public criticism of head coach Michael Carrick. According to the United skipper criticised Carrick’s tactics for the game, then, It was up to the United head coach and his backroom team, not the players, to spot any issues and change them.
The fallout follows a heavy 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League, after which the Portugal midfielder publicly questioned the team’s tactical setup and stated that rectifying issues is the responsibility of the coaching staff rather than the players.
External observers viewed the remarks as a direct challenge to Carrick’s authority, arriving only eight days after defender Lisandro Martinez voiced concerns regarding club recruitment and director of football Jason Wilcox.
Despite some internal disappointment over his choice of words, club figures acknowledged that the midfielder’s frustration was justified following one of the heaviest European defeats in United’s history, compounded by his obligation to complete 10 post-match interviews despite being substituted for Joshua Zirkzee.
Coach Michael Carrick is scheduled to address the media during his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Carrick will be asked about the situation when he holds his pre-game news conference at 13:30 BST on Friday. There is sympathy for Fernandes for the position he found himself in, inside Old Trafford.
