Jamie Carragher believes some Manchester United players will be relieved to see Bruno Fernandes dropped, claiming they 'don't actually like playing' with the midfielder. The Liverpool legend made the remark after Fernandes was left out of United's starting XI for the high-stakes Premier League clash with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Fernandes dropped after Carrick criticism
Fernandes had criticised Michael Carrick's approach following United's heavy Champions League loss to Como in midweek, attacking the manager's defensive, low-pressing tactics. A week earlier, Lisandro Martinez had launched a similarly scathing attack on the club's hierarchy, singling out technical director Jason Wilcox for apparent inactivity in the summer transfer window.
Carrick refused to rule out stripping Fernandes of the captaincy after the latest defeat, despite the Portuguese's reputation as arguably the club's finest player of the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era. Explaining the team selection, Carrick told Sky Sports: 'When you have options it's always a difficult decision. We have to make the right one for today and the team to get that performance we want.' Asked if Fernandes had been dropped for football reasons, Carrick replied: 'Pure football.'
Carragher backs the decision
Speaking in the Sky Sports studio, Carragher suggested the bold call could have a galvanising effect on United's overall performance, while acknowledging that the 32-year-old Portugal international was the club's 'best player'.
'He is Manchester United's best player, we can't get away from that, PFA Player of the Year last year,' Carragher said. 'Carrick had to make a stand, I think we all agree on that, but the ones they've put in there, they need a result.'
'You're hoping actually, "Could this bring us together as a group?", because there's no doubt about it, even though he's the best player, there will be a lot of people who don't actually like playing with him in the Manchester United team because he's permanently throwing his arms up at people.'
Players urged to stick together
Carragher added: 'He's basically saying, "You aren't good enough to play with me", that's basically what we see from Fernandes a lot when things aren't going right for Manchester United. So hopefully the players in that dressing room stick together and that's what they'll need today, they'll need the support as well because confidence is low.'
According to Carragher, Carrick had little choice but to lay down the law and drop his captain. The ex-Liverpool centre-back did not accept that Fernandes had been removed for purely footballing reasons, saying: 'Unfortunately for supporters, most people in football are terrible liars and in that job you have to lie unfortunately. The manager doesn't come out and say what he really thinks about his players and players don't really say what they think about the manager's tactics or the teams he's picked.'
Ashley Young, on punditry duty alongside Carragher, said he wouldn't be surprised if Fernandes received a mixed reaction from the Old Trafford faithful. 'It could be a mixed reaction to be honest,' the former United and England winger said. 'With the comments that Fernandes made in the week, some fans will cheer him and some might boo him.'
Young added: 'When you go for a manager and you direct it at the manager after the game, and you're not performing in that way, then yeah it is, it's one of the worst things you can come out and say. There's no player that is bigger than the football club.'
