Michael Carrick sends message to Bruno Fernandes over his role in Bournemouth clash

Michael Carrick insisted he will do ‘what is best for Manchester United’ when asked if he will drop Bruno Fernandes for the game against Bournemouth this weekend .

United slumped to a miserable 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday night, outclassed by the Italian side competing in the competition for the first time this season.

After the game, Fernandes blasted Carrick’s tactics, specifically the decision not to press man-to-man. Asked whether Carrick got things wrong tactically, Fernandes said: ‘That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me.’

Carrick issued his own curt response on the night. ‘if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win.’

Carrick is set to remain in charge of United this weekend despite the club actively looking at possible replacements should results not quickly improve.

Fernandes’ conduct has raised questions over whether the captain should be involved for the visit of the Cherries on Sunday with former skipper Wayne Rooney urging his old teammate to take the Portugal international ‘out of the firing line.’

Carrick opened his press conference on Friday by addressing reporters with a speech vowing to steer the club back on track, insisting he is still ‘100 per cent’ the man to lift them from their current malaise.

But on the subject of a punishment for Fernandes after his comments, Carrick was giving little away.

Asked if Fernandes could be dropped or even stripped of the captaincy, Carrick said: ‘The most important thing is the team and the dynamics of the squad and the football club and I always do what is best for the club.’

Pushed again if he will strip Fernandes of the captaincy, Carrick said: ‘Whatever the situation is I will do what is best for the football club.’

He added: ‘If I have spoken to him or I haven’t spoken to him, I don’t think this is the time to go into too much detail.’