Manchester United coach Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes appeared to trade criticism after a humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como, a result that cast fresh doubt over Carrick's future. United suffered their fifth defeat in 11 games this season with a miserable performance at Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium in Como, Italy, on Wednesday night.
Afterward, Fernandes, who was subbed off after 67 minutes, appeared to question Carrick's tactics. "It was a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind," he said. When the comments were put to Carrick in his postmatch news conference, the 45-year-old responded with his own dig at Fernandes and the rest of the squad. "We actually were half-pressed man-to-man in the second half and then conceded a goal from that," Carrick said. "And whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."
The war of words between Carrick and his captain is likely to intensify speculation about Carrick's position. He signed a two-year contract in May after leading United to a third-place finish in the Premier League, but he is under mounting pressure after a run of seven games without a win. Asked whether he fears he could be sacked, Carrick, who apologized to travelling supporters after the final whistle, said he had not given his own position any thought.
"This is for the supporters; I was one of them watching that, and I wasn't happy at all," Carrick said. "I'm really angry, to be honest. We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight wasn't acceptable. I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them, for sure."
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing