Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has launched a stinging attack on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder questioned manager Michael Carrick’s tactics following Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.
Carragher criticised Fernandes for questioning the team’s approach, insisting the United captain owed Carrick credit for helping him win the Player of the Year award last season.
Fernandes had questioned United’s decision not to press Como players man-to-man after the defeat.
Carrick responded at his post-match press conference, saying: “If you don’t run back, you won’t win.”
Fernandes’ comments came barely a week after teammate Lisandro Martinez criticised the club’s hierarchy following a 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.
Speaking on CBS Sports, Carragher said: “We said that Lisandro Martinez completely overstepped the mark when he criticised the hierarchy.”
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He added, as reported by Sky Sports: “But for Bruno Fernandes to do it is a disgrace.
“Last season, he won the Player of the Year award, and the credit for that goes to Michael Carrick, who took over the role of manager.
“He would not have won that award without Carrick, who put him back in his proper place.”
Carragher accused Fernandes of reacting badly to being substituted and suggested his conduct was inappropriate for a club captain.
“His behaviour and the way he deals with things are completely wrong. He acted this way because he was substituted and felt embarrassed tonight by the manager.”
The former Liverpool star also questioned Fernandes’ understanding of pressing, arguing that his approach had contributed to United’s problems without the ball.
“When he talks about pressing, whether it’s man to man or zonal pressing, Bruno Fernandes has meant for years that Manchester United cannot press.”
Carragher continued his criticism by accusing Fernandes of making unnecessary movements that created more work for his teammates.
“He runs everywhere like a child in a school playground for the fans. They all think he puts in a lot of effort, but he doesn’t. He is exhausting the rest of the team by doing this.”
He then compared Fernandes’ conduct with that of former Manchester United captain Bryan Robson, whom he described as one of the club’s greatest players.
“He is not playing in a successful era at Manchester United, but years ago there was a captain called Bryan Robson, one of the greatest players ever to have played for Manchester United.”
Carragher argued that Robson’s legacy was built on loyalty to the club and his refusal to undermine managers or teammates.
“He did not play for teams that win the league or European cups every year, yet he is still considered one of the greatest players ever to have played for the club. He never betrayed the manager or the players, but kept defending Manchester United with all his might.”
He said Fernandes’ behaviour on the pitch made his criticism of Carrick particularly difficult to accept, given the team’s performances this season.
“Watching Bruno play week in, week out, constantly raising his arms in the faces of the players, it’s a disgrace that he criticises the manager given his performance this season on the pitch. Very bad behaviour, and not befitting the captain of Manchester United.”
Carragher also questioned whether United’s repeated managerial changes could be attributed solely to a lack of tactical identity from successive coaches.
“How many managers has he worked with? Did every manager at Manchester United lack a distinctive identity?”
Turning to Como manager Cesc Fabregas, Carragher praised his technical ability but delivered a wider condemnation of United’s leadership and structure.
“Cesc Fabregas (Como’s manager), I think he is the best young manager technically, but Manchester United is rotten from the top of the pyramid to the bottom. Everything at the club is rotten.”
Carragher welcomed Carrick’s public response to Fernandes, insisting that United’s players needed to demonstrate greater effort and discipline.
“This situation cannot continue for a club of this size. I am glad that Michael Carrick said that about Bruno Fernandes. They are not running, because they simply are not running. I am very glad that he took him out of the match, and glad too that he responded to him in kind.”
Despite backing Carrick’s response, Carragher warned that the defeat could have serious consequences for the United manager.
He said the result was particularly concerning because expectations of a United victory had already been low.
“It’s an embarrassing matter. But the worst thing about it is that I don’t think there were many people who believed Manchester United could win tonight.”
He added: “So, in some respects, the result does not seem shocking. I think the way it happened is the shocking part of it.”
Carragher warned that the scale of the defeat and United’s performance could place Carrick’s position under greater pressure.
“I think it’s such a bad result and a bad performance that it could have serious repercussions for the manager, unfortunately for him.”
He concluded by acknowledging Fernandes’ contribution last season but suggested Carrick could become the latest United manager to lose his job.
“A good young man, a good player for Manchester United, who put in a great performance last season, but it looks like another Manchester United manager will fall once again.”
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