The Red Devils entered Sunday’s match on a seven-game winless streak, having managed just two victories from their opening 11 fixtures in all competitions this season.
United’s poor form leaves head coach Carrick’s position hanging in the balance, prompting him to make the bold call to drop skipper Fernandes to the bench against the Cherries at Old Trafford. It comes days after the captain questioned Carrick’s tactics in an eye-catching post-match player interview in the minutes after a 4-1 loss to Como.
Former United captain Gary Neville backed the decision to remove the skipper from the starting line-up against the Cherries.
"They’re devastating (comments)," he told Sky Sports. "It’s a direct attack on the manager.
"If you go back 25 years, these players would never be anywhere near the club, never mind the pitch. They’d be gone. Finished.
"But Manchester United aren’t in that position anymore and neither is Michael Carrick.
"I was supportive last week of Lisandro Martinez playing. I thought it was handled well because there’s no defenders, the ones who are there aren’t good enough and he got a public apology.
"I don’t think there is any way that Carrick can start Fernandes today."
Neville added: "Fernandes has been a fantastic player for this club, he’s been world-class at times. But let’s be really blunt about it – he’s played awfully this season. His standards have been really poor. It’s a mess."
Carragher went further, insisting Fernandes’s absence will be welcome by some of his team-mates.
“Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United's best player, we can't get away from that,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “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.”