On 25 October, Jamie Carragher said Michael Carrick had dropped Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United's match against Bournemouth. Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said Manchester United need a result and that confidence is low.
Carragher on Fernandes
Carragher said: "He is Manchester United’s best player, we can’t get away from that, PFA Player of the Year last year."
He also said: "You’re hoping actually, 'Could this bring us together as a group?', because there’s no doubt about it, even though he’s the best player, there will be a lot of people who don’t actually like playing with him in the Manchester United team because he’s permanently throwing his arms up at people. He’s basically saying, 'You aren’t good enough to play with me', that’s basically what we see from Fernandes a lot when things aren’t going right for Manchester United."
Carrick's decision
Carrick claimed Fernandes was dropped for "pure football" reasons.
Carragher said: "Carrick had to make a stand, I think we all agree on that, but the ones they’ve put in there, they need a result."
GOAL said the dropping came after a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como and Fernandes publicly criticised Carrick and his defensive tactics.
Comments on public remarks in football
Carragher said: "Unfortunately for supporters, most people in football are terrible liars and in that job you have to lie unfortunately."
He added: "The manager doesn’t come out and say what he really thinks about his players and players don’t really say what they think about the manager’s tactics or the teams he’s picked. He’s come out and been brutally honest and you just can’t do it. We all know that. It’s almost a code of conduct. Inside a football club, you’re almost trying to present this front that everything is better than what it is on the inside and that’s what it is."
He also said: "So hopefully the players in that dressing room stick together and that’s what they’ll need today, they’ll need the support as well because confidence is low. They need to start well and actually enjoy playing football with each other and if things aren’t going well or someone gives a couple of passes away, they get together, keep encouraging people and pushing people on."