Bruno Fernandes has publicly criticised Michael Carrick’s tactics after Manchester United’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, claiming the Red Devils lacked bravery and man-to-man pressing
Bruno Fernandes didn’t hold back in criticising Michael Carrick and his Manchester United coaching team straight after their crushing 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.
The United skipper was substituted on 67 minutes with his team already 3-0 behind, having been deployed as the most advanced attacker on the left flank in a woeful display from the entire squad.
Yet Fernandes’ grievances were aimed at the tactical approach, especially United’s defensive structure. “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.
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“But sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence,” he told HBO Max.
“It’s not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way.
“Conceding early makes us go into game with a mood of defeat, it’s difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen. If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation,” reports the Express.
When pushed on Carrick’s responsibility for the loss, Fernandes responded: “That’s on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.
“As you saw with them [Como], the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half.
“We need to do that as a team but we were unable to. A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide.”