Bruno Fernandes inspired Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 Champions League comeback against Roma and admitted manager Michael Carrick was right to drop him after he publicly criticised the team’s tactics.
The United captain scored a penalty and set up Matheus Cunha’s equaliser as the side fought back from 2-0 down to end a nine-game winless run against the Italian club. It was Fernandes’ strongest display of a difficult season and a reminder of the form that earned him England’s Footballer of the Year award last term.
Last month, Carrick left the 32-year-old out of the side against Bournemouth after Fernandes questioned the manager’s approach following a 4-1 defeat to Como. Speaking after the Roma victory, Fernandes said the decision was justified.
“It’s been tough, there’s been a lot of speculation in the media,” he told Amazon Prime. “A lot of lies around many things that have happened between me and the manager, that we have cleared the air, then after that the manager took the decision to put me on the bench because I’m not performing.
“Everyone thought that was a punishment for the words that I had. If it was, it was right. The manager is the one who makes the decisions.
“It doesn’t change the belief I have of the manager and the staff and every player in this club. And it doesn’t change my aim to win every f***ing game that I have ahead of me.”
Carrick’s position has come under increasing pressure amid United’s worst start to a season since 1986, with just one Premier League win so far. Fernandes, however, rejected the idea that the Roma result would help save his manager’s job.
“We don’t need to save anyone’s job,” he said. “The club needed that win, the players needed that win. We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together.”