Carrick drops Bruno Fernandes to the bench for Man United’s home game against Bournemouth

Under-pressure Manchester United manager Michael Carrick left club captain Bruno Fernandes out of his starting XI for the Premier League match at home to Bournemouth on October 25, 2026, naming him among the substitutes.

Fernandes had appeared to criticise Carrick four days earlier after United's 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, an exchange that prompted a public reply from the manager. Carrick responded at that time by saying, “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.”

Ahead of the Bournemouth match, Carrick described the selection choice as a “pure football” decision in a pre-match interview. Fernandes was voted as the player of the year in England last season.

Statistics company Opta noted it was only the sixth occasion Fernandes has been named on the bench for a Premier League game since joining United in January 2020.

United have not recorded a win in any of their last seven fixtures in all competitions and have won just one of their seven Premier League matches this season. That run has left Carrick fighting for his job and he has called on his players to show “humility and hard work” in their performances.

Published - October 25, 2026 07:26 pm IST - MANCHESTER, England

Photo Credit: Reuters