Bruno Fernandes is reportedly viewed as a divisive figure in the Manchester United dressing room, with some teammates questioning his influence and eye-rolling when he speaks.
The midfielder has attracted controversy this season as United have won just twice in all competitions. After last week's Champions League defeat to Como, Fernandes publicly questioned Michael Carrick's tactics and said it was up to the 45-year-old manager, not the players, to sort things out. He was subsequently benched for the loss to Bournemouth, where he warmed up but was not introduced as United conceded three goals without reply.
He returned to the starting line-up against Chelsea on Saturday afternoon but could not prevent another painful defeat.
Dressing Room Perceptions
Before kick-off at Stamford Bridge, the Daily Mail reported that Fernandes is considered a divisive member of the dressing room, even by some of his fellow teammates. He is described as an "emotional metronome" who often sets the mood around the club, both good and bad.
The midfielder is believed to have been "worn down" by United's current plight, which explains his body language on the pitch during recent defeats. While other players have distractions away from football, the 32-year-old reportedly finds it hard to switch off and is personally affected when United go through a bad spell.
Some insiders believe Fernandes bonds the dressing room together, with questions over who else would wear the captain's armband if it were stripped from the Portugal international. However, a number of United players are not totally convinced by his standing.
Relationship with Amorim and Carrick
A source is quoted as saying: "The players can be quite dismissive of him. Sometimes they roll their eyes when he's talking." The report adds that his close relationship with former manager Ruben Amorim was "viewed with suspicion" by some members of the dressing room.
Fernandes appears less fond of Carrick, given his scathing comments after the Como defeat, but the under-fire boss has drawn a line under the incident. Explaining his recall to the starting line-up against Chelsea, Carrick said: "He's a big player, Bruno, he offers us so much, you know, with his experience. He's been through a lot here and achieved a lot and shown what he can bring to the team, so he's an important part of the team for us."
