TEAMtalk reported Graeme Bailey urged Michael Carrick to strip Bruno Fernandes of the Manchester United captaincy before Sunday's match against Bournemouth and hand it to Harry Maguire. Asked about that possibility, Carrick said he would do what is best for the club.
Fernandes comments after Como defeat
After Manchester United's 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, Fernandes said: “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence.”
When asked directly if Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes replied: “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me.”
He also said: “Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”
Carrick's response before Bournemouth
Ahead of Sunday's clash with Bournemouth, Carrick was asked if he would remove the captaincy from Fernandes following the midfielder's comments.
Carrick said: “I will always do what is best for the football club.”
Bailey calls for Maguire to return as captain
On the latest episode of The TEAMtalk podcast, Bailey urged Carrick to restore Harry Maguire as club captain.
Bailey said: “I feel sorry for Michael Carrick. You’ve got your captain, Bruno Fernandes, behaving like he is.”
He added: “He has turned in some of the worst displays from a Manchester United captain I’ve seen in recent times.”
Bailey also said: “At Leeds United the other day, if he put as much effort into running after the referee as he does towards the ball, they’d be in better shape.”
He said: “The likes of Kobbie Mainoo and Baleba, I hope they’re looking at Fernandes and thinking, ‘That’s not the players we want to be.’”
Bailey added: “He is acting scandalous, disgraceful as a Manchester United captain. I don’t think he’s fit to wear the armband, I really don’t.”
He said: “I think Michael Carrick’s last thing as Manchester United manager should be to strip Bruno Fernandes of the captaincy.”
Bailey added: “Give it to Harry Maguire. Give it to someone who’s willing to teach these players.”
Maguire and the wider manager picture
Maguire was United's skipper from January 2020 until July 2023, when then-manager Erik ten Hag gave the captaincy to Fernandes.
TEAMtalk reported on Thursday that Unai Emery, Antonio Conte, Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe are on United's shortlist.
TEAMtalk reported it understands Carrick's future will likely be decided by the upcoming games against Bournemouth, Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa.
TEAMtalk reported United chiefs Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell are at odds over which manager should take over next.