Fernandes to remain Manchester United captain after criticism of Carrick

Bruno Fernandes will remain Manchester United captain and will not be disciplined after he criticised Michael Carrick following United's 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como in Como on Wednesday. The club has decided there will be no formal punishment for the skipper's post-match remarks.

Fernandes questioned Carrick's tactics for the game and said it was the responsibility of the head coach and his backroom staff, rather than the players, to identify problems and make changes. Those comments were widely viewed externally as a challenge to Carrick's authority. The incident came eight days after defender Lisandro Martinez publicly criticised director of football Jason Wilcox and the club's summer recruitment. Inside Old Trafford there is reported sympathy for the position Fernandes found himself in after the defeat.

There is disappointment within the club about some of Fernandes' remarks, but several figures have accepted his frustration given how the match ended, describing the result as one of the worst in United's European history. Fernandes had been substituted midway through the second half for Joshua Zirkzee. Despite his early withdrawal he conducted 10 post-match interviews in Como.

It remains to be seen whether Fernandes will be selected for Sunday's Premier League encounter with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Carrick will be asked about the situation when he holds his pre-game news conference at 13:30 BST on Friday.