Jamie Carragher has labelled Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes 'a disgrace' for his comments after Manchester United's 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League
The former Liverpool defender criticised Fernandes, saying, 'In terms of attitude and the way he goes about things, it's not right at all'
Fernandes appeared to question manager Michael Carrick's tactics, by saying 'you have to be more brave' and urging the 'manager and the staff' to 'take the risk'
Asked about his future, Carrick said he 'had to apologise to the supporters' and that he's 'really angry' about the situation
Carrick is scheduled to hold a news conference tomorrow to look ahead to Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth, writes Simon Stone
Send your views and have your say in our poll - was Fernandes right to speak out? Paddy says he'd rather have 'academy players who care' | Sam says it shows the deeper problem at Man Utd
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The Fernandes comments are distracting from the real issue. Neither Carrick nor Fernandes can take an ounce of credit from that performance. Something must change. A manager change or player changes could bring short-term success, but NOTHING will change until the ownership goes. They have ruined this club.
Henry, Reading
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I watched a live stream of Man Utd training a while back, I was shocked at how easy going it was. I guess it makes sense with what we see on the pitch.
William, Armagh
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Michael Carrick is the eighth permanent/interim manager to have had at least five games in charge of Manchester United since Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired in 2013 with a United win rate of 59.7%.
Carrick's win rate of 50% has recently dipped below many of his predecessors, leaving just interim boss Ralf Rangnick and Ruben Amorim with a worse record.
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It’s been the same cycle for a decade, with Fernandes present for much of it. First, the manager is sacked. Then a new manager arrives, results improve, and a contract extension follows. Eventually, players stop responding, the manager gets thrown under the bus, and the cycle repeats.
Rudy, Manchester
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Michael Carrick returned to Manchester United in January, initially as manager until the end of the season. After steering United to a third-placed finish and Champions League qualification, he was appointed their permanent manager in May on a two-year contract.
Last night's defeat was his 28th game in charge (not including his stint as caretaker boss in 2021) and his win rate is exactly 50% - 14 wins, seven draws, seven defeats.
But last season's record is in stark contrast to that in the current campaign. United won 12 of their 17 games under Carrick last season, with three draws and two defeats, giving him a win rate of 70.6% in 2025/26.
This season they have won two out of 11 games in all competitions, with four draws and five defeats for a win rate of 18.2% in 2026/27.
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Image source, Getty ImagesFormer Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, speaking as a pundit on broadcaster CBS Sports, saying Manchester United "needs" to change the management.
"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.
"I commentate on games watching Man United and 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. He's not playing in a successful era for Man United.
"Years ago, there was a captain called Bryan Robson, one of the greatest players to ever play for Man United because he played for the club, he didn't throw the manager or the players under the bus.
"He kept fighting for Manchester United and watching him throw his arms up every week constantly in a game is an absolute disgrace, calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch.
"Awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should be.
"It's not about the manager, it's everything about the club. There's no doubt, the manager needs to be changed now. This can't go on for a club of this stature. But I'm glad he came out and said that about Fernandes."
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Michael Carrick has totally changed his footballing philosophy from last season, it's slow, boring, tip-tap football. Instead of the team being built around Bruno, Carrick's moved Bruno out wide to accommodate Tielmans and the other two new midfielders. Mason Mount ie totally ineffective and Zirkzee wouldn't get into a good Championship side.
Mick, Barnsley
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Image source, Getty ImagesIf you are just joining us, we have been picking our way through the aftermath of one of Manchester United's worst ever defeats in Europe.
Their 4-1 mauling at Champions League debutants Como would have been a huge story in itself, but that was before captain Bruno Fernandes used his post-match interview to criticise the tactics employed by head coach Michael Carrick.
The United skipper said it was the decision of the "manager and staff" not to press high up the pitch and added: "Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."
Carrick had substituted Fernandes in the second half and provided a curt response in his post-match news conference when told about his captain's comments, saying: "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."
Fernandes' comments prompted an angry response from pundits and fans alike.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told CBS Sports that the Portugal international was an "absolute disgrace".
Those words have been echoed by readers on this page this morning, with one describing the United skipper as the "anti-captain", while another said that last season's 'player of the year' should not be part of the club's long-term plans.
However, others have supported Fernandes' right to speak out, saying he is not a disgrace, just frustrated.
What do you think? Could it ever be right for a captain to criticise their manager in public?
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Non Man Utd fan here. You’ve been a mid-table club for a decade, and need to stop thinking this is a blip and rebuild accordingly. Fernandes has been your best player by miles for seasons and you’ll go down without him. He’ll be ok. Be careful what you wish for!
Sophie, London
Como 4-1 Manchester United
John Murray
Football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live
It feels like Manchester United are miles behind a club like Bayern Munich, whereas once they were on a par.
You know, it's that sort of club, the way it runs. It feels like everything at Bayern Munich is pulling in the right direction.
With Manchester United, it feels that that is far from the case and has been for such a long time now.
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Look no further than the ownership for this debacle. Glazers have drained so much money out of the club that there's not enough left to manage a viable PL operation. The year we spent in the old 2nd Division was far more joyous.
Desmond, Barnet
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I don’t get it… When managers call out this atrocious ownership that’s killing the club they are sacked, Martinez says the truth that every single fan and everyone can see he is fined. Now Bruno tells the truth, we slam him? I mean who is allowed to say something?
Antoine, London
Como 4-1 Manchester United
'This feels like the end for Michael Carrick at Man Utd'
After last night's game, Manchester United fan Jay Motty said he feels like it's "the end" for Michael Carrick as head coach.
"That was as bad as I've seen United in a long, long time," he added. "Como looked up for it, looked well organised, looked well drilled, looked passionate - we didn't look any of those things.
"Is a new manager going to change this? Probably not. But I feel like a new manager's going to happen sooner rather than later, and I'll be surprised if Michael Carrick sees the end of the week as Manchester United manager.
"He's been found wanting this season, and he's been let down massively by the players and by the board."
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Let’s face it Fernandes is not a disgrace. He’s frustrated. How many managers and interim managers since he joined? The real disgrace is the way the club is run. Never thought Carrick was the man for the job. Man Utd manager is a poisoned chalice for sure!
Jeremy, on a cruise ship
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Would Fernandes have had the outburst if he hadn’t been hooked. As captain he should’ve shown leadership rather than his usual sulky attitude when games are going against them.
Gary, Aberdeen
Como 4-1 Manchester United
John Murray
BBC football correspondent on Football Daily
I'm surprised at the size of the result and the comments after it as well, they're really damaging aren't they?
I thought they did well to keep a lid on it after Martinez said what he did. But it's a different level now. It's a different level when it comes from the captain.
Como 4-1 Manchester United
BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray was at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night to watch their 2-2 draw with Arsenal.
He spoke with 5 Live Breakfast this morning about the current contrast between Bayern and Manchester United, who beat the German giants in the 1999 Champions League final to secure the Treble under Sir Alex Ferguson...
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Nedum Onuoha
Former Man City defender on MOTD: UEFA Champions League
'Simply not good enough - Warnock on Man Utd's Como display
On captain Bruno Fernandes' criticism of Manchester United's tactics and head coach Michael Carrick's curt response:
It's not good at all. I think for them to be clashing with their messaging after such a tough defeat is a huge issue because you want everybody to come together and try to figure out a way to get through difficult times on the same page.
But for those two that definitely doesn't seem to be the case.
I think last week's outburst by Lisandro Martinez was more about the football club itself, whereas this one here is about someone [Fernandes] bringing into question the manager's tactics and also [from Carrick, criticising] the way the players are playing for the manager.
Bruno Fernandes thinks the tactics where essentially wrong in this game, whereas Michael Carrick thinks the players were not running enough in this game for the tactics to work out.
When you find those sorts of splits it can be very hard in a dressing room to maintain energy behind a manager.
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Have always defended Bruno when rival fans complain about his whining during games etc, but as a United fan I'm angry at him now. He is part of the problem. Carrick is hamstrung by poor recruitment and players with terrible attitudes.
Richard, Belfast
Fernandes is the anti-captain. Moody, petulant, uncontrolled emotions. If I was a coach of a kids team and I was training my captain, I'd say watch Fernandes he's the total opposite of what a captain should do. Being the best player in a team doesn't make you a leader.
Thomas, Manchester
How dare a club captain publicly talk like that. Whatever he thinks he needs to be professional and set a good example. Time for him to be dropped and sold in January.
David, Northamptonshire
Como 4-1 Manchester United
Image source, Getty ImagesReacting to Bruno Fernandes' comments, CBS Sports, external pundit Jamie Carragher was in shock at what he heard - branding "awful attitude" Fernandes a "disgrace" and declaring his actions as 'not what a Manchester United captain should be'.
"We said Lisandro Martínez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy above him. For Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really," Carragher said.
"When you think about last season, he got player of the year. That was on the back of Michael Carrick becoming the manager. He wouldn't have got that award without Michael Carrick, because Michael Carrick put him back in his rightful position and he then went on to have a fantastic season because he's a talented footballer.
"But when you think of him as a footballer, he's a talent, but in terms of attitude and the way he goes about things, it's not right at all.
"And he's reacted like that because he's been brought off and he's been embarrassed tonight by the manager as he 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.
"I commentate on games watching Man United and 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.
"Years ago, there was a captain called Bryan Robson, one of the greatest players to ever play for Man United because he played for the club, he didn't throw the manager or the players under the bus.
"He kept fighting for Manchester United and watching him throw his arms up every week in a game is an absolute disgrace, calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch.
"Awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should be."
