Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes criticized manager Michael Carrick’s tactics after a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como on Wednesday, telling reporters the team’s refusal to press high was “on the manager and staff.” The Bruno Fernandes Carrick tactics criticism came hours after United suffered their fifth loss in 11 games this season at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium.
Fernandes, who was substituted after 67 minutes, said United sat off Como for long stretches instead of pressing man-to-man. “It was a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind,” he said, according to ESPN. He added, “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”
Fernandes Explains His Criticism Of United’s Approach
Fernandes did not stop at tactics. He pointed to a lack of effort on the pitch as a separate problem from the game plan. “We actually were half-pressed man-to-man in the second half and then conceded a goal from that,” he said. “And 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.”
Como’s Nico Paz scored after just 118 seconds, created the team’s second goal and scored a third himself, according to the BBC. Joshua Zirkzee pulled one back for United in injury time, but the damage was already done.
Carrick’s Response To The Defeat
Carrick did not directly rebut his captain’s comments but addressed the performance in blunt terms, apologizing to the traveling United supporters. “Listen, I’ve not given my own position any thought. This is for the supporters; I was one of them watching that, and I wasn’t happy at all.
I’m really angry, to be honest. We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight wasn’t acceptable. I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them, for sure,” Carrick said, according to ESPN.
The manager’s comment that he had “not given my own position any thought” came without him addressing Fernandes’ specific tactical complaint, leaving the disagreement over game plan unresolved in public.
Mounting Pressure And Outside Reaction
Carrick signed a two-year contract in May after leading United to a third-place Premier League finish, and he won 12 of his 17 games in charge last season to return the club to the Champions League after a two-year absence, according to the BBC. That form has reversed sharply. United have won only two games across all competitions this season and sit 13th in the Premier League with a single win in seven league matches, per Sporting News. The club has now gone seven games without a win.
The BBC noted that observers have drawn comparisons between Carrick’s situation and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s dismissal, which came 24 hours after Manchester United lost 4-1 at Watford in November 2021. Carrick, a five-time Premier League winner and Champions League winner as a player at United, has also faced scrutiny over the summer transfer window. According to the BBC, United added three midfielders but did not bring in competition for left-back Luke Shaw or striker Benjamin Sesko.
Fernandes’ public criticism of the staff drew sharp reaction from former players turned pundits. Joe Cole, speaking on TNT Sports, said a captain should not question tactics publicly. “You cannot come out and question the tactics.
That’s sacrilege,” Cole said. Jamie Carragher went further on CBS Sports, linking the comments to defender Lisandro Martinez’s earlier criticism of the club’s hierarchy. “We said Lisandro Martinez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy above him, and for Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really.
Last season he got player of the year; that was on the back of Michael Carrick becoming the manager. He wouldn’t have gotten that award without Michael Carrick,” Carragher said.
What’s Next For United And Carrick
United have not given any official statement on Carrick’s future following the Como result. The club’s next assignment will test whether the rift between manager and captain affects performances on the pitch, with Carrick’s job security likely to remain a talking point given the current run of seven games without a win. Fernandes was fined earlier this season following a similar incident involving Martinez, as previously reported by Total Apex Sports, raising questions about how the club will respond to this latest public criticism.
For more on United’s struggles this season, see Carrick Under Pressure After United’s Worst Start In 40 and the latest from Five Premier League Weekend Takeaways.
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