Bruno Fernandes will stay as Manchester United captain and is unlikely to be disciplined despite publicly criticising Michael Carrick following their Champions League defeat to Como. United's skipper challenged the head coach and his backroom team over their tactical decisions in his post-match interview.
Fernandes on Tactical Orders
Fernandes claimed that the players were instructed against pressing their opponents man-to-man, rather than not carrying out orders. He called on the coaches to show greater courage under pressure by adopting a higher pressing game.
The captain believes United allowed Como to build momentum, saying they had too much room to exploit the flanks.
Internal Reaction
Mirror Football understands Fernandes is unlikely to face any sanctions whatsoever. However, there is internal disappointment with the Portugal international's remarks.
That is balanced, though, by a broader acknowledgement that the anger and frustration he voiced were understandable given the nature of the defeat. United found themselves trailing 1-0 inside two minutes.
Post-Match Interview
Speaking to TNT Sports following the 4-1 loss on Wednesday evening, Fernandes delivered an interview described as 'disgraceful' by pundit Jamie Carragher. He said: "It's not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way."
"Conceding early makes us go into game with a mood of defeat, it's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen. If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation."
Fernandes then chose to shift his attention towards the dugout, saying: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence."
When questioned whether Carrick had got his tactics wrong, Fernandes didn't hold back, replying: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.
"As you saw with them [Como], the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half. We need to do that as a team, but we were unable to.
"A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide."
Carrick's Response
Responding to those comments, Carrick said: "We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that. And there's a little bit on 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 ain't going to win."
