Under-pressure Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has refused to rule out dropping Bruno Fernandes or stripping him of the captaincy after the midfielder appeared to criticise his tactics following the defeat to Como.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday ahead of United’s match against Bournemouth at Old Trafford, Carrick was asked about Fernandes but declined to give a direct answer. "The most important thing for me is the team, first and foremost," said Carrick. "It's the squad, it's the dynamics in the squad. And again, it's about the football club. And I'll always do what's best for the football club."
Pressed on whether he had considered removing Fernandes as captain, Carrick reiterated his stance. "I'm just saying I'll always, whatever the situation is, I'll always do what's best for the football club." "If I've spoken to him or haven't spoken to him, I don't think this is the time to go into too much detail," he added.
Fernandes is the second United player to have publicly criticised the club’s hierarchy in as many weeks, following Lisandro Martínez’s comments about director of football Jason Wilcox and the board. United’s recent struggles have intensified the pressure on Carrick, with the team going seven games without a win before Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Fernandes has also questioned the manager’s tactics, adding to concerns over Carrick’s position.
Addressing United’s recent performances, Carrick acknowledged that the club had fallen short of its standards. "Recently we haven't had a good time, I think that's pretty obvious," he said. "Wednesday was a bad night, and it hurt me to see us play like that. It was unacceptable. My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, and the supporters, and they can be proud of in the identity we show. We have gone away from that recently. It's important we all recognise that.
"The foundation and values of this football club have been etched for many years. I totally understand and get every single one of them.
"There's a resilience about this football club that runs very deep. I've seen it with my own eyes, I've felt it, I'm know some of the individuals closely who have been a big part of that history.
"Entitlement cannot be at this football club.
"It was based on being humble, having humility, and hard work. We can never lose that, and I won't let us lose that."
Carrick took charge in January 2026 following the sacking of Ruben Amorim and initially oversaw a remarkable turnaround, guiding United to a top-three finish and Champions League qualification. However, United have struggled this season and sit 13th in the Premier League with seven points. Bournemouth are just a point behind in 15th place.