Rooney pointed to the way Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson handled his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese would sometimes be handed an unexpected week off, the idea being to recharge him and bring him back sharper.
Fernandes may need the same, Rooney told the Mirror, warning that heaping more pressure on him risks deepening his frustration and dragging down his level. Carrick, by contrast, refused to be drawn on whether he might strip Fernandes of the captain’s armband. He insisted only that the team and the club come first, and that he will make the decision that serves Manchester United.
Having rallied the squad after Ruben Amorim’s departure and taken the job permanently in the summer, Carrick now has to prove he can handle a crisis. Leading a team riding high is one thing.
Dropping Fernandes for the Bournemouth clash could be the decisive move to restore discipline and prove that no player, whatever his name, is bigger than the team.
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