Fernandes dropped to bench by Man Utd boss Carrick

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reports that Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been left out of the starting XI for Sunday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth, with manager Michael Carrick responding after Fernandes publicly criticised him following a heavy midweek defeat to Como. The decision comes as United try to halt a seven-game winless run in all competitions.

According to the BBC report, Fernandes had questioned Carrick’s tactics after Wednesday’s 4-1 loss in the Champions League, a remark that put his team place under scrutiny ahead of the Bournemouth fixture at Old Trafford. Carrick declined to confirm in his pre-match news conference whether the midfielder would be dropped, but the final team selection saw Fernandes named among the substitutes.

Harry Maguire was chosen to captain the side in Fernandes’ absence, while Mason Mount was given a more creative role alongside Youri Tielemans. Matheus Cunha also started on the bench after being substituted at half-time in Italy. Carrick used his programme notes to stress the club’s standards and the need for a stronger response after what he described as a disappointing performance. The move is notable because Fernandes has rarely been omitted from a league starting line-up, underlining the significance of the disciplinary decision and United’s effort to reset after recent setbacks.