Fernandes dropped to Man Utd bench - was Carrick right?

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been dropped for Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth.

Fernandes' place in the team has been debated since his explosive comments after Wednesday's Champions League humiliation by Como, when he blamed manager Michael Carrick for United's tactics in the 4-1 defeat and his failure to alter them.

Carrick refused to say in his media conference on Friday whether Fernandes would be dropped.

That has now happened, with the Portugal midfielder left on the bench as United aim to end a seven-match run without a win in all competitions.

Asked about the selection on Sky Sports, Carrick called Fernandes' omission "a football decision".

"When you have options it's always a difficult decision. We have to make the right one for today and the team to get that performance we want," he added.

Harry Maguire takes over as captain, with Mason Mount handed a playmaking role along with Youri Tielemans.

It is only the sixth time Fernandes has been left on the bench for a Premier League game. That past two, at the end of the 2024-25 season, were to keep him fresh for important Europa League games.

They have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games without Fernandes in the starting XI (D3 L6), beating Newcastle 1-0 in December.

Matheus Cunha is also on the bench after being replaced at half-time in Italy, along with Lisandro Martinez, who spoke out about the United hierarchy following the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid this month.

Martinez started at Leeds last week but was left out of the Como game because of injury.

"[He is] not quite [fit enough] - it was touch and go but it wasn't worth the risk."

Carrick referred to the Como debacle in his programme notes for Sunday's game.

"Manchester United is a truly great football club," he said.

"Our standards and values have been set out over generations and are very important to me.

"As a group, we have a duty to represent you in a manner that is befitting of those principles.

"Wednesday's performance was extremely disappointing in many ways. Today we have to show what we are all about.

"We all need to stick together but we know that we absolutely have to do better for you. Now, as a group, we need to put in a performance that your support deserves."

European football expert Julien Laurens talking on BBC Radio 5 Live: I think if the sanctions against Lisandro Martinez had been the right ones, I'm not sure Bruno would have said that after the Como game.

It's about boundaries and having to set limits for your own squad so things like that don't happen and now, for two senior players within the space of six days to go after the sporting director, your owners, your manager, your staff is just embarrassing. It's such a circus.

Leave him at home, he doesn't need to be on the bench - it's half of a sanction again. He's just going to be behind Carrick and I don't think he should be there full stop.

Former Crystal Palace striker Clinton Morrison on BBC Radio 5 Live: It's a big call but I think it's the right call. A lot of people have raised eyebrows but I do think it's the right call. You can't call out the manager like that tactically.

When I was a player, I had a big mouth myself, but one thing I'd do was I'd go toe-to-toe and say it to the manager, or in the changing room or in front of people. I wouldn't go out and say it in the media.

But if they don't get a result and you've dropped your best player and your captain, it will fall back on Michael Carrick.

No-one is bigger than the football club.

Ex-Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher talking to Sky Sports: Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United's best player, we can't get away from that. PFA Player of the Year last year. He had to make the stand, Michael Carrick.

Even though he's the best player, there will be a lot of people who don't actually like playing with him in the United team. He's permanently throwing his arms up at people, he's basically saying, 'you're not good enough to play with me'.

That's what we see from Fernandes a lot when things aren't going right for United.

Daryl: Fernandes, and anyone else not fully behind the manager and his way of thinking, should be dropped. End of.

Tom: Very brave of Carrick but also the right decision. Bruno has been poor this season, only one good game against Ipswich. He spends too much time dragging the team down with his silly childish antics. He was the captain, talk about not leading by example.

Sam: We're all aware of Bruno's quality but his form has largely been pretty dire so far this season. His outburst may have been better received if he was still performing like last season, but ultimately he isn't. Harsh to drop him perhaps but absolutely understandable. I would've done the same.

Josh: Fair play to Carrick for dropping Bruno. It's one thing if Fernandes had gone to Carrick in private and said what he said. It's another thing to do it publicly in front of cameras.