Fernandes admits Carrick benched him for poor form after Bournemouth loss
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has confirmed manager Michael Carrick benched him for the 3-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth last month due to poor performance. "The manager took a decision of making myself be on the bench because I wasn't performing. That's fair," Fernandes told CBS Sports Golazo after leading United to a 3-2 Champions League win over AS Roma on Tuesday.
The benching followed Fernandes' public criticism of Carrick's tactics after the Champions League match against Como. Carrick's decision to leave his captain out completely for the Bournemouth match sparked speculation of a rift, but Fernandes' comments suggest he accepts the disciplinary action.
Fernandes returned to the starting lineup and captained United to victory against Roma, scoring and assisting in the comeback win. United next face Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend as they look to recover domestic form.
With United sitting mid-table in the Premier League but progressing in Europe, will Carrick's tough love on his captain translate to consistent league performances, or does the squad need more than disciplinary measures to fix their domestic struggles?