Jamie Carragher has launched fierce criticism at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, branding the Portuguese midfielder a 'disgrace' after his outburst towards head coach Michael Carrick. The former Liverpool defender defended the underfire 45-year-old coach and praised him for hitting back at the skipper in the wake of their 4-1 defeat to Como.
Carragher claimed that Fernandes' comments were in response to being left "embarrassed" after he was brought off in the closing stages of their drubbing in Northern Italy. Nico Paz was the pick of the bunch as his brace helped Cesc Fabregas' side to a famous win and heaped more pressure on the Premier League-winning midfielder.
Carragher's Furious Rant
In a furious rant, the footballer-turned-pundit, speaking on CBS Sports, accused Fernandes of "killing" his teammates and being the reason United cannot press as a team. He said: "No (not a good look). We said Lisandro Martinez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy and for Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really. When you think about last season he got Player of the Season, that was off the back of Michael Carrick becoming manager, he wouldn't have got that without Michael Carrick because he got put back in his rightful position and went on to have a fantastic season because he's a talented footballer."
"But in terms of attitude, the way he goes about things, is not right at all. He's reacted like that because he's been brought off and he's been embarrassed by the manager because he's been brought off. When he talks about pressing, man-to-man or zonal, for years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press."
Fernandes' Attitude Under Fire
Carragher continued: "Because he does things for the crowd, I commentate on games and he runs all over and plays like a kid in the schoolyard, he plays for the supporters, it looks like he's working hard, he's not, he's killing the team doing it. He's not playing in a successful era for Manchester United."
"Years ago, there was a captain called Bryan Robson, one of the greatest players to ever play for Man United because he played for the club, he didn't throw the manager or the players under the bus. He kept fighting for Manchester United and watching him throw his arms up every week in a game is an absolute disgrace, calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch. Awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should do."
Manager Change Needed
Carragher acknowledged that a managerial change is needed at Old Trafford as a result of the defeat, which made it seven without a win. However, he praised Carrick for biting back at his captain, proving to be an unlikely ally as he admitted that he feels sorry for the tactician.
"Isn't it funny, how many managers has Bruno Fernandes had? So every single manager doesn't have a philosophy? How many managers are we on now? Five?" Said Carragher. "It's an easy thing to say, Fabregas is the best new thing in managerial teams but Man United is rotten from top to bottom. Not just the manager, the whole club, who has got the answers?"
"We comment on it all the time. Are we ever right really? No one else seems to. There's no doubt the manager needs to be changed now, this can't go on for a club of this stature but I'm glad Michael Carrick come out and said that about Michael Carrick. They don't run."
"What he did last season, no one proclaims Michael Carrick is one of the greatest managers in Europe but what he did was come in and helped his own football club, he was out of work, come in and done amazing, the only reason they're in the Champions League is because of Carrick. He got them in there, the reason they got another £100m to £150m, no one thought they'd be there. I feel sorry for him a little bit. It's not working out and it needs to be changed. I'm delighted he brought him off and a pop back because that what they need some of them players."
