Ashley Young has criticised Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder was spotted arriving at Old Trafford with his hood up ahead of the Premier League clash with Brighton. Fernandes was dropped to the bench by interim manager Michael Carrick for the match against the Seagulls.
Fernandes benched for Brighton clash
Fernandes had already been in the spotlight earlier in the week after appearing to question Carrick's tactics following United's 4-1 defeat to Como. The Portuguese midfielder was named among the substitutes for the visit of Brighton, with Matheus Cunha, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui also left out of the starting XI.
In their place, Amad, Ayden Heaven, Carlos Baleba and Leny Yoro were handed starting berths. Carrick insisted the decision was based solely on footballing considerations, though he admitted it was a difficult call involving one of the club's most influential players.
Young unimpressed by captain's response
Former United winger Young, however, was unimpressed by Fernandes' reaction, arguing that the midfielder's behaviour did not reflect the standards expected of a United captain.
"Do you know what you want, as well? Okay, you've been dropped as a player, you know, it happens to a player," Young said on Sky Sports. "You've been there, but you want to see a reaction."
"He's got his hood up, he's walking in, he's showing the fans, look, I'm still upset. But that's not the reaction you want from a captain of Manchester United. You want to see him, [feel] okay, right, I've been dropped, I know what I've done wrong, I'm going to walk in, and when I get the opportunity to come on the pitch, I'm going to show what I'm actually about."
Young added: "Okay, 'my comments in the week were said and directed to Michael Carrick, but I don't want to show everyone else. What I've said is already out there.' Now I need to show what I'm about, personality, and showing that when he walks in. That's not what you want to see."
