Fernandes questions Carrick after Man Utd’s 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como
Bruno Fernandes publicly challenged Michael Carrick’s tactics after Manchester United’s 4-1 Champions League loss to Como in Italy, comments reported on 22 October 2026 that have provoked widespread reaction.
United’s defeat, described in the report as the result of a wretched performance, prompted Fernandes to tell TNT Sports: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence." The 32-year-old added: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me." Carrick replied: "There's a little bit of 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." The club have not won in their past seven games since beating Champions League minnows Sabah and have just one win in their seven Premier League games this season.
Former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher, working as a summariser on CBS Sports, criticised Fernandes’s reaction, saying: "He's reacted like that because he's been embarrassed by the manager [who] brought him off." Carragher added: "For years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press because he does things for the crowd... He runs all over the place like a kid in the schoolyard for the supporters. They all think he's working hard. He's not. He's killing the rest of the team doing it." He concluded: "[It's an] awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should be."
Some former players urged the debate remain internal rather than public. On BBC Radio 5 Live, Kasper Schmeichel said: "Given last week and what's happened, he probably should not be saying these things because it's only going to add to the problems." On BBC Match of the Day, Stephen Warnock argued: "I think there will be ex-players now from Manchester United saying, 'why are you letting this get out, this should be a collective in the changing room where we come together'." Joe Cole, on TNT Sports, described it as "sacrilege" and stated: "I've played for managers where I don't agree with the tactics but you might say that to your mate or to your wife. You don't come out as captain of the club and question the manager."
The report recalls a similar episode involving defender Lisandro Martinez a week earlier, when Martinez said he expected more investment and "more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]" and later apologised. The article notes that Martinez did keep his place, after apologising, at Leeds last Sunday, and suggests Fernandes's public comments could have even larger repercussions for United.
The piece outlines Fernandes's recent history at the club: he has been Manchester United's captain for three years, joined from Sporting for £47m in January 2020, and has scored 111 goals and made 106 assists in 338 games for the club in all competitions. It also records that Erik ten Hag made him skipper in the summer of 2023, that he faced criticism after the 7-0 loss to Liverpool in 2023, and that he was named the Premier League's player of the year last season after a record 21 assists.
Fans and club commentators remain divided. Andy Mitten, editor of United We Stand, told BBC 5 Live Breakfast that Fernandes has "thrown his coach under the bus" and called it "a terrible look," while also observing injuries and the absence of a recognised centre-forward at the club. Mitten added: "He went to the fans and he held his hands up and he said, 'I'm sorry'. You can tell he's hurting. He's a Manchester United fan himself." The report records that Carrick, who took over in January initially as caretaker manager, appeared to ignore players at full-time before going to the supporters.
There has been no word from the club about whether Fernandes's role as captain is in jeopardy after his outburst, and "many will be wondering whether he should even start in Sunday's game against Bournemouth."
