Michael Carrick is never short of advice on how to do his job as head coach of Manchester United, and few of his players divide opinion quite like skipper Bruno Fernandes. Ahead of Sunday's vital Premier League game against Bournemouth at Old Trafford, there is no shortage of views on whether Fernandes should be dropped.
Former Everton and Rangers striker Duncan Ferguson has no doubts. "It is a big problem for Michael," he told The Overlap podcast. "Put people in the team you trust. Your captain has thrown you under the bus. If you don't think he is playing for you, get him out. I wouldn't pick him even though he is their best player." Joe Smith, host of the Manchester United fan channel Stretford Paddock, shares that opinion.
But only one man's opinion really counts. Carrick picks the team, and his friend and former team-mate Wayne Rooney has a view. "We've seen it now with Bruno and you're going to see it with more players because they don't want to take responsibility," Rooney said on the United Stand podcast. "If I was in Carrick's position now, I'd come out fighting. There's no more Mr Nice Guy."
The controversy follows Fernandes' post-match outburst after the 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como. Many observers were shocked that he was not disciplined, and surprised he remains skipper, when team-mate Lisandro Martinez was fined for attacking the club hierarchy after the 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. The core issue is whether Fernandes went too far in criticising Carrick's tactics, and his comments, made on TNT Sports, were not off the cuff. Some at Old Trafford, however, sympathise with the 32-year-old, who carried out 10 post-match interviews after the Como defeat.
Carrick must deal with the here and now. United's hierarchy is keen to avoid the cycle of sacking managers, having dismissed Ruben Amorim last season and Erik ten Hag the season before. Carrick will be asked whether Fernandes will be dropped at a news conference at 13:30 BST.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing