Michael Carrick has hit back at Bruno Fernandes after the Manchester United captain publicly criticised the coaching staff's tactics in the wake of the team's 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.
United were thrashed by Cesc Fabregas' Serie A side in Italy, with Fernandes substituted in the 67th minute while his team trailed 3-0. Speaking to TNT Sports after the match, the 32-year-old club captain blamed a "decision from staff" for the heavy loss, suggesting the decision not to press man-to-man had contributed to the defeat.
Fernandes Blames Coaching Decisions
Fernandes said: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave a bit of space in behind and then try to get the ball in the first moment to wait for them, to give them the ball."
"But sometimes when you give too much the ball [away] to these teams, they get confident, they have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot which makes people get frustrated," he added. "And then, when we recover the ball, the legs and the brain are much more difficult to make it work."
The outburst comes just one week after team-mate Lisandro Martinez criticised the club's hierarchy and transfer boss Jason Wilcox in another post-match interview.
Carrick's Response
Carrick responded directly to Fernandes' claims, saying they were off the mark and appearing to make a veiled reference to the midfielder's own performance. "We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that," Carrick said. "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."
The United manager was quick to criticise his team's overall performance while acknowledging that responsibility ultimately falls on his shoulders. "We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight, I wouldn't say everyone, but the way we went about it in some ways tonight wasn't acceptable," he said.
Pressure Mounts on Carrick
Carrick's side have managed just two victories in 11 matches this season, leaving the former United and England midfielder under significant pressure to keep his job.
Addressing the fans, Carrick said: "And I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them, for sure. It wasn't just the goals, if I'm totally honest. It was the manner and the way we played at times, in the way we went about it, that was the difficult thing to watch for me."
"It's not about playing for me, it's about playing for this football club. It's the responsibility that comes with being in the position; I'm responsible for the football club and the supporters," he added. "I'm giving my best, absolute best all the time, I care about it. My whole life's wrapped around it. I genuinely give everything that I possibly can."
