Michael Carrick Hits Back at Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United Crisis Deepens

Carrick breaks his silence – sharply

Another week, another Manchester United PR crisis. This one involved Michael Carrick hitting back at his players, a rarity in his managerial career, after a bruising Champions League defeat.

The flashpoint was a disagreement over pressing. Bruno Fernandes explained the approach: “It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence.”

Carrick's riposte was blunt: “If you don't run and you don't run forward and you don't run back, you ain't going to win.”

Carragher wades in

On CBS, Jamie Carragher weighed in on Fernandes, saying: “They all think he's working hard. He's not. He's killing the rest of the team doing it.”

The public airing of grievances is unlikely to ease the pressure on Carrick, and the Amazon All or Nothing documentary series currently in production for United's season will be appointment viewing.