Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has accused the media of spreading “lies” about his relationship with head coach Michael Carrick following the club’s 3-2 Champions League win over Roma on 3 November.
Speaking to Amazon Prime at Old Trafford, Fernandes denied reports that he and Carrick had held talks to resolve a disagreement. He also defended Carrick’s decision to leave him on the bench against Bournemouth, saying it was fair because his performances had not been good enough.
What Fernandes Said About The Reported Carrick Meeting
Fernandes told Amazon Prime: “The club needed this win, not just the manager. We’ve been working so hard to get out of this situation. A lot of speculation and lies in the media between me and the manager.”
Sky Sports News reported on 28 October that Carrick and Fernandes met at United’s training ground the day before. The report said Carrick was satisfied that the animosity between them had ended, although it was unclear whether Fernandes had apologised for his public criticism.
The meeting came during a wider squad discussion in which players and staff acknowledged that poor performances had been a collective problem this season.
How The Como Criticism Led To Fernandes Being Dropped
Fernandes questioned United’s approach after their 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como on 21 October. He said the team had been instructed not to press man-to-man, leaving space behind, but stressed that the manager and coaching staff were responsible for tactical decisions.
Carrick then left him on the bench for the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on 25 October, describing it as a “pure football” decision.
According to Opta, it was only the sixth time Fernandes had been named as a Premier League substitute since joining United in January 2020.
On 29 October, Carrick insisted that Fernandes remained fully committed to the team and said there were “absolutely no issues” between them.
United's Comeback Against Roma And The Next Fixture
Roma took a 2-0 lead inside the opening 17 minutes, with Donyell Malen scoring their second from the penalty spot.
Fernandes pulled one back with a retaken penalty in the 58th minute before Matheus Cunha struck twice, in the 83rd and 86th minutes, to complete United’s comeback. Cunha was later sent off in added time.
The win ended United’s nine-match winless run, marking their first victory in 10 games. Their previous win had come 54 days earlier.
United will next host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on 8 November.
