Manchester United are in the midst of a horrid spell of form under Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes has done little to ease the pressure on his head coach.
United’s latest defeat came on Sunday in the form of a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, days after their dire 4-1 humbling by Como in the UEFA Champions League.
United have been in a horrific run of form, failing to win any of their last seven games.
Fernandes did little to ease the pressure on Carrick, who was awarded a permanent deal as manager ahead of the new campaign after helping United to an impressive third place finish, after defeat to Como.
It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little space in behind and try to get the ball in the first moment, to wait for them, to give them the ball,” said Fernandes.
“But sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confident, they have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot, make people get frustrated, and then obviously when you recover the ball the legs are, and the brain, much more difficult to make it work.
“That’s on the manager and on the staff to see it, it’s not on me.
“I just said, I think sometimes we have to be more brave on the pressure, trying to take a risk of getting that press very high and making them uncomfortable – as they did to us.”
His comments were uncharacteristic of a captain and he was subsequently dropped to the bench for Sunday’s loss to Bournemouth.
United legend Gary Neville has predicted that Carrick’s time at the helm will soon end, although the Old Trafford faithful have backed the manager, chanting his name as he made his way around the pitch to applaud the supporters.
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In contrast, the players were booed off the pitch and the board were targeted with deriding chants.
Roy Keane warned of Bruno Fernandes captaincy issues
There is no doubting Fernandes’ ability as a footballer, having been recognised as the PFA Player of the Year last season by his peers.
However, the current state of play has brought Fernandes’ character into question – something Roy Keane was quick to flag three years ago.
Keane, one of the club’s greatest ever captains, categorically shared his view that Fernandes should be stripped of the leadership role after defeat to Manchester City in late October of 2023.
The Cork man’s comments are particularly relevant three years on.
‘Today having watched him again I would take the captaincy off him 100%,” Keane said on Sunday.
“I know it’s a big decision, obviously they changed the captaincy with (Harry) Maguire, but Fernandes is not captain material.
“He is a talented player no doubt about it. But what I saw today — we’ve heard it before, he’s whinging, he’s moaning, he’s throwing his arms up in the air constantly. It really isn’t acceptable. From what we saw today, I would take it off him.”
He concluded: “He is the opposite to what I would want in a captain.”
“He’s the opposite to what I would want in a captain!”
Roy Keane says he would take the captaincy off Bruno Fernandes 😳 https://t.co/r8ynceAum8
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 29, 2023
It seems like Keane hit the nail on the head.
United’s latest defeat leaves them just a point clear of the relegation places in the Premier League at the time of writing.