Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has criticised Michael Carrick's tactics and the club's focus on past achievements after a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, prompting a response from the manager.
Fernandes gave a second scathing interview with the Italian media following Wednesday night's loss. In his first interview with English broadcasters, he questioned Carrick and his staff's tactics.
Fernandes Questions Tactics and Club Focus
"That's on the manager and staff to see, not me," Fernandes said when asked if Carrick got his game plan wrong against Como. "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."
The interview led to backlash, including from Jamie Carragher, who branded him an 'absolute disgrace'. In another interview, Fernandes took aim at the club, telling Sky Sport Italia: "Everyone at the club must understand that it's no longer the same.
"We're no longer in the past and we must look to the future. We must create something different in the present. At this club, we focus too much on what was achieved in the past, but we are no longer the same. The club and the players must understand this.
"Unfortunately for us, especially the players, those who come think about winning trophies, matches, and reaching the highest level, but unfortunately it's been very difficult at this club in recent years. That's the situation."
Carrick Responds and Fernandes on Substitution
When Fernandes' comments were put to Carrick, the United boss replied: "I don't agree with him, but at the moment we are very far from that level. When we arrived in January we picked up more points than anyone else until the end of the season, so this team has shown that it can achieve good results over a long period of time. But we need to do much better after this start to the season.
"Am I at risk? I'm not the one who matters tonight, I don't know what will happen but I'm not at the centre of the situation. The important thing is the club, the history, the tradition and the values we represent and today we didn't live up to that."
Fernandes was also asked about his reaction to being substituted in the 66th minute. He was seen throwing his coat to the ground in frustration and was not acknowledged by the United boss.
"Nobody likes to leave the pitch, especially with a result like that," Fernandes admitted. "It was a very difficult match for us, it was almost impossible to play with the ball, we weren't close enough to maintain possession and play in their half. Como were very brave in their man-to-man pressing, we never did that and we gave them too many opportunities to play between our lines, thus managing to create chances to score."
United return to action on Sunday when they host AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.
