Alan Shearer has criticised Manchester United players Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez for speaking out publicly, demanding they focus on their performances after the team's 4-1 defeat to Como. The result has left head coach Michael Carrick fighting for his future at the club.
Fernandes and Martinez have used interviews after the last two Champions League games to express their frustrations. Martinez lamented the lack of signings made by director of football Jason Wilcox during the summer transfer window following the 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. A week later, captain Fernandes questioned the tactical approach of Carrick and his staff after the heavy defeat to Como.
Shearer's Verdict on Player Conduct
The former England and Newcastle United captain told Betfair: "I look at what's happening in the last week with Martinez coming out and saying what he did, then Bruno Fernandes coming out and saying what he did after the game."
"Any chance of you doing your job, lads, as players? Because I didn't see too much effort, too much commitment, and too much running around from Bruno last night," Shearer added. "Wherever you go, at all clubs, there's player power. That's the game that we're in now, whether you like it or not. But you also have to take responsibility as an individual."
Call for Responsibility
Shearer continued to question the players' displays this season, stating: "I mean, Bruno Fernandes is the captain of Manchester United. You can't be coming out and saying that against your manager and dropping your manager or your staff in it when you yourself, as an individual, have had a really poor game and a really poor season."
"He was player of the year last year. We haven't seen any of that from Bruno Fernandes this season," Shearer said. "So, it's alright him coming out and criticising the manager, but is there any chance of him playing well this season? Same as Lisandro Martinez."
"When your captain comes out and criticises the manager, it puts more pressure on the football club. A captain shouldn't be coming out, and especially after a game and after a result like that," he added. "It would have been far better for Bruno to come out and say we're hopeless as a team, and I, as captain, accept responsibility for that, rather than trying to blame everything on his manager, especially when he's been that poor himself as an individual. I mean, the manager took him off, and he probably had the hump for that."
Carrick is set to take charge of United's next match, against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday.
