Sports · Football · 8 hrs ago
Carrick benches Fernandes as Manchester United lose to Bournemouth
Manchester United lost to Bournemouth in a Premier League match on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes starting on the bench.
Manager Michael Carrick left Fernandes out after the midfielder criticised United's tactics following a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.
Fernandes said the team had sat back instead of pressing, giving Como confidence, and argued United should sometimes take more risks.
Carrick did not bring Fernandes on, even after United fell three goals behind, and used four substitutes.
Former player Jamie Carragher said he thought Carrick had no intention of using Fernandes and suggested the decision was meant to embarrass him; Carrick did not explain the choice beyond saying the team had been selected.
The decision has intensified questions about tensions between the captain and coaching staff as United seek to improve their results.
United had started the day 15th in the league, with one win from seven matches.
Carrick faces pressure to find a winning formula, while his handling of Fernandes remains under scrutiny.
Manchester United lost to Bournemouth after manager Michael Carrick left captain Bruno Fernandes out of the starting line-up.
Fernandes was benched after criticising United’s tactics following a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como on Wednesday.
Carrick did not bring Fernandes on during the Bournemouth match, despite United going 3-0 down after 71 minutes.
Jamie Carragher said Carrick had never intended to use Fernandes and suggested the decision was meant to embarrass him.
Carrick said Fernandes was fit and available, but the team had chosen a different line-up.
- Who
- Manchester United, managed by Michael Carrick, and Bournemouth. Bruno Fernandes was left on the bench.
- What
- United lost to Bournemouth with Fernandes out of the starting line-up and unused as a substitute.
- When
- Sunday, October 25, 2026.
- Where
- Old Trafford, Manchester.
- Why
- Carrick benched Fernandes after he criticised United’s tactics following their 4-1 defeat by Como.
Jamie Carragher
Michael Carrick
Reason for benching Fernandes
Jamie Carragher
Carragher said Carrick never intended to bring Fernandes on and had left him out to embarrass him in front of supporters.
Michael Carrick
Carrick said Fernandes was fit and available, but the team had decided on a different line-up.
Manchester United lost 4-1 away to Como in the Champions League, and Fernandes criticised the team’s tactics.
Carrick declined to rule out disciplinary action when asked about Fernandes’ remarks.
Carrick left Fernandes out of United’s starting line-up against Bournemouth.
United went 3-0 down after 71 minutes, and Carrick did not bring Fernandes on.
- Opponent
- Bournemouth
- Manchester United manager
- Michael Carrick
- Benched player
- Bruno Fernandes, United captain
- Previous match
- 4-1 defeat away to Como in the Champions League
- Match venue
- Old Trafford
4 sources
Michael Carrick 'deliberately tried to embarrass' Bruno Fernandes by dropping him against Bournemouth, claims Jamie Carragher - as Gary Neville labels 'whingeing' Man United captain 'an excuse merchant'
Bruno Fernandes benched by Carrick vs Bournemouth as Man United tensions grow
Bruno Fernandes left out of Manchester United starting line-up vs. Bournemouth after Como outburst
Four changes: United XI v Bournemouth named
What people are saying
The coaching staff decided not to press man-to-man, but instead to sit back and look to win the ball; the problem, however, is that you give teams like that confidence when you allow them that space.
I don't think he was ever going to bring him on.
He's fit and available but we decided to pick the team we did.