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Michael Carrick's response to those Bruno Fernandes comments and the subsequent reaction from fans and pundits was already going to be interesting.

Antonio Conte's statement earlier today, in reference to reports in Italy suggesting he wanted "full powers" to take over Carrick's role at United, adds further intrigue.

Conte has said that he is in "no negotiations at an advanced stage" and would need "conditions to be right" in his next role.

You can watch Carrick's news conference live, using the play icon at the top of this page.

The United manager is scheduled to face the media from 13:30 BST.

Manchester United

A lot has been made of Bruno Fernandes' comments after the loss at Como and while Michael Carrick will no doubt be asked about them again this afternoon, he has already responded.

In his post-match news conference following the 4-1 defeat in Italy, he appeared to have a little dig back at his captain.

Asked about Fernandes' criticism, the United boss said: "There's a little bit of 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 aren't going to win."

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Andy Mitten, editor of United We Stand, told BBC 5 Live Breakfast that Bruno Fernandes has "thrown his coach under the bus".

"It's a terrible look," he said.

"And Manchester United fans are divided as to whether he should or should not do that. Last week, Martinez was also critical. A lot of Manchester United fans agreed with him.

"Again, there's mitigation, he wants a new contract. That's because he's not been playing enough, because he's been injured. And injuries are a real problem for Manchester United. There's no recognised centre-forward. So it is a really difficult time for United."

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Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney said he was in "shock" and "disbelief" at the performance against Como and he is as "worried as I've been for a long time" at the situation at Old Trafford.

Rooney also called the players "selfish" and said "they're like babies" in the wake of the controversial comments from both Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes.

"When Martinez came out, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart," Rooney told the United Stand podcast.

"That was the start. We've seen it now with Bruno and you're going to see it with more players because they don't want to take responsibility.

"You can say whether Bruno was right or wrong in what he said but you have to take responsibility on the pitch. You have to take responsibility as a group of players.

"These players, they're selfish. They don't care about their team-mates, don't care about the manager, the staff or the fans, they care about themselves.

"If they're not getting what's right for them, they're like babies and just throw their toys out of the pram and go and deflect the blame on to anyone else but themselves."

Manchester United

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, working as a pundit on CBS Sports, on Bruno Fernandes' comments: "He's reacted like that because he's been embarrassed by the manager [who] brought him off.

"And when he talks about pressing, whether it's man-to-man or zonal, for years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press because he does things for the crowd.

"He runs all over the place like a kid in the schoolyard for the supporters. They all think he's working hard. He's not. He's killing the rest of the team doing it.

"Watching him throw his arms up every week in a game is an absolute disgrace [and] calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch.

"[It's an] awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should be."

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

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Bruno Fernandes will remain as Manchester United captain and will not be disciplined for his post-match criticism of Michael Carrick after the 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.

The United skipper criticised Carrick's tactics for the game, then said it was up to the United head coach and his backroom team, not the players, to spot any issues and change them.

It was seen by many externally as a challenge to Carrick's authority, just eight days after United defender Lisandro Martinez criticised director of football Jason Wilcox and the club's summer recruitment.

Inside Old Trafford, there is sympathy for Fernandes for the position he found himself in.

The Portugal midfielder did 10 post-match interviews in Como, despite being replaced by Joshua Zirkzee midway through the second half.

While there is disappointment at some of his comments, it is acknowledged Fernandes' annoyance was understandable given the manner of the loss, which was one of the worst in United's European history.

It remains to be seen whether Fernandes will be picked for Sunday's Premier League encounter with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Manchester United

If Michael Carrick is to hold onto the Manchester United job, he'll need some good results in a tricky run of fixtures...

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Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

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The cycle of doom that has ultimately engulfed every Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson now has the hapless Michael Carrick in its unforgiving grip.

Carrick recreated a familiar scene - the same one acted out by predecessor Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after a 4-1 loss at Watford in November 2021 cost him his job - by raising his hands in apology to supporters who had just seen United humiliated by the same scoreline at Como in the Champions League.

Carrick is the seventh full-time manager since Ferguson stepped down in 2013 after winning 38 trophies during 26 years in charge.

Since then there have been days of success under Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Erik ten Hag, and moments of hope, but the final outcome is always the same - dismissal.

Carrick will need something miraculous to change that storyline, with results poor and revolt within the dressing room as defender Lisandro Martinez took aim at director of football Jason Wilcox after the Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid, while captain Bruno Fernandes questioned the tactics in Como.

It hints at something rotten in the state of United.

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Manchester United reporter

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This time last week, Michael Carrick was preparing to face questions about Lisandro Martinez's explosive post-match comments following Manchester United's defeat by Atletico Madrid.

The United head coach spoke well – and also made a point of stressing how well his team had trained preparing for their visit to Leeds United.

Carrick would have been preparing to go through it all again after skipper Bruno Fernandes made more personal comments after the 4-1 hammering by Como.

Fernandes has not been disciplined by the club or had the captaincy removed. But some feel Carrick should drop him anyway.

His former team-mate and good friend Wayne Rooney has urged him to "come out fighting" and show "no more Mr Nice Guy".

It will be fascinating to see how Carrick deals with Friday's news conference.

He knows more than anyone the importance of a victory to end a current seven-match run without a win, their worst since 2015-16.

Carrick also promised on Tuesday there would be an update on Benjamin Sesko's shin injury.

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Michael Carrick's management is coming under intense scrutiny following a run of just two wins in 11 matches at the start of this season.

The club is 13th in the Premier League, with just one win from their seven matches, and has fallen to 21st place in the Champions League following back-to-back defeats.

Carrick's position was further weakened with a 4-1 loss at Como on Wednesday, after which captain Bruno Fernandes questioned the tactics employed.

The United boss is due to face the media from 13:30 BST today - stick with us for live text coverage and watch the news conference live on this page.

BBC Sport reported on Thursday that while club sources say Michael Carrick will remain in charge for Sunday's match, Manchester United have already begun the process of identifying possible replacements.

Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann are understood to have their eyes on the Old Trafford job.

It is important to note that Antonio Conte has not mentioned Manchester United by name in his social media statement.

The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss has been linked with a number of clubs since leaving his last post at Napoli, including United and Juventus.

However, a recent report in Italy, external said that United had "sounded out" Conte and the Italian had demanded "full powers" to take Michael Carrick's role at Old Trafford.

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Here is the full statement from Antonio Conte, which he has released on his Instagram story:

"Following recent media reports in Italy and abroad, I feel it is appropriate to clarify my position.

"My name has been linked with numerous clubs, but there are currently no negotiations at an advanced stage. Following a wonderful and successful spell in charge of Napoli, I will take the time I need to consider how and when to return to management. It will be a carefully considered decision, one I will make when I believe the conditions are right.

"I have read reports of financial demands and requests for full control that I have supposedly already made to the clubs mentioned, as well as reservations about what has been described as my “strong personality”. These reports are unfounded, as there is currently no concrete basis for such assessments.

"Should a concrete opportunity arise, that will be the time to hold discussions with the club concerned and jointly consider the terms of a potential agreement, with due regard for both parties’ needs and the qualities and approach that define my work as a manager.

"Until then, any assumptions about my demands and my professional future remain speculation and cannot be treated as fact."

Antonio Conte has written a response on social media to reports linking him with the Manchester United job, saying that "no negotiations" he is involved in are at an "advanced stage".

The Italian, who has not worked since leaving his last position with Napoli, said that he "will take the time to consider" his next move and that "conditions" need to be "right".

Full quotes to follow.