Bruno Fernandes dropped to bench for Manchester United v Bournemouth

Bruno Fernandes has been left on the substitutes' bench for Manchester United’s home Premier League match against Bournemouth on Sunday. The Portugal midfielder was dropped after his public criticism of manager Michael Carrick following Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.

Fernandes blamed Carrick for United’s tactics in the Como loss, a row that had made his place in the team a subject of debate since Wednesday. Carrick declined to confirm in his pre-match media conference whether Fernandes would be omitted and United enter the game aiming to end a seven-match run without a win in all competitions. On Sky Sports Carrick described Fernandes’ omission as "a football decision" and said: "When you have options it's always a difficult decision. We have to make the right one for today and the team to get that performance we want."

Harry Maguire will captain the side in Fernandes’ absence, with Mason Mount given a playmaking role alongside Youri Tielemans. Fernandes being benched is only the sixth time he has been left out of the starting XI for a Premier League match; the two previous occasions at the end of the 2024-25 season were to keep him fresh for Europa League fixtures.

Matheus Cunha is also named among the substitutes after being replaced at half-time in Italy, with Lisandro Martinez likewise on the bench. Martinez had spoken out about the United hierarchy following the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid this month, and although he started at Leeds last week he was left out of the Como game because of injury; Carrick said of Martinez: "[He is] not quite [fit enough] - it was touch and go but it wasn't worth the risk."

United have won just one of their last 10 Premier League matches without Fernandes in the starting XI (D3 L6), that solitary victory coming in a 1-0 win over Newcastle in December. The selection choices for Sunday therefore carry into an established pattern of mixed results when Fernandes has not started.

In his matchday programme notes Carrick addressed the Como performance and club values directly, writing: "Manchester United is a truly great football club." He added: "Our standards and values have been set out over generations and are very important to me. As a group, we have a duty to represent you in a manner that is befitting of those principles. Wednesday's performance was extremely disappointing in many ways. Today we have to show what we are all about. We all need to stick together but we know that we absolutely have to do better for you. Now, as a group, we need to put in a performance that your support deserves."

Reaction on radio and social channels has been divided. European football expert Julien Laurens on BBC Radio 5 Live said: "I think if the sanctions against Lisandro Martinez had been the right ones, I'm not sure Bruno would have said that after the Como game. ... Leave him at home, he doesn't need to be on the bench - it's half of a sanction again. He's just going to be behind Carrick and I don't think he should be there full stop." Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live said: "It's a big call but I think it's the right call. A lot of people have raised eyebrows but I do think it's the right call. You can't call out the manager like that tactically. When I was a player, I had a big mouth myself, but one thing I'd do was I'd go toe-to-toe and say it to the manager, or in the changing room or in front of people. I wouldn't go out and say it in the media. But if they don't get a result and you've dropped your best player and your captain, it will fall back on Michael Carrick. No-one is bigger than the football club." Jamie Carragher told Sky Sports: "Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United's best player, we can't get away from that. PFA Player of the Year last year. He had to make the stand, Michael Carrick. Even though he's the best player, there will be a lot of people who don't actually like playing with him in the United team. He's permanently throwing his arms up at people, he's basically saying, 'you're not good enough to play with me'. That's what we see from Fernandes a lot when things aren't going right for United." Fan comments included: Daryl: "Fernandes, and anyone else not fully behind the manager and his way of thinking, should be dropped. End of." Tom: "Very brave of Carrick but also the right decision. Bruno has been poor this season, only one good game against Ipswich. He spends too much time dragging the team down with his silly childish antics. He was the captain, talk about not leading by example." Sam: "We're all aware of Bruno's quality but his form has largely been pretty dire so far this season. His outburst may have been better received if he was still performing like last season, but ultimately he isn't. Harsh to drop him perhaps but absolutely understandable. I would've done the same." Josh: "Fair play to Carrick for dropping Bruno. It's one thing if Fernandes had gone to Carrick in private and said what he said. It's another thing to do it publicly in front of cameras."

Manchester United host Bournemouth on Sunday, with live coverage of the match available from 14:00 GMT, as the side seek to stop their run without a victory.