Under-pressure Manchester United boss Michael Carrick refused to rule out dropping captain Bruno Fernandes for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, after delivering a passionate and emotional address lasting five minutes and 30 seconds as he fights to save his job.
Instead of taking his seat and answering questions as normal at Friday’s scheduled pre-match media conference at Carrington, Carrick chose to speak first. It was a tactic former boss Sir Alex Ferguson used, although the legendary Scot rarely spoke at such length.
A defining message on identity
United have won just one of their last seven games, a run that culminated in a shocking 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como on Wednesday. Defender Lisandro Martinez has since criticised the club’s hierarchy, and Fernandes condemned his own team’s tactics in Italy. Carrick used his opening address to reaffirm what he believes United stand for.
“Recently we haven’t had a good time, I think that’s pretty obvious,” he said.
“Wednesday was a bad night, and it hurt me to see us play like that. It was unacceptable.
“My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, and the supporters, and they can be proud of in the identity we show. We have gone away from that recently. It’s important we all recognise that.
“The foundation and values of this football club have been etched for many years. I totally understand and get every single one of them.
“There’s a resilience about this football club that runs very deep. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I’ve felt it, I know some of the individuals closely who have been a big part of that history.
“Entitlement cannot be at this football club.
“It was based on being humble, having humility, and hard work. We can never lose that, and I won’t let us lose that.”
No guarantees for Fernandes
Asked whether he had considered dropping Fernandes, a defiant Carrick replied: “The most important thing for me is the team, the squad and dynamics in the squad.
“It’s about the football club. I’ll always do what is best for the football club.”
Club sources said on Thursday that Fernandes would not have the captaincy taken away or be fined for his post-match comments following the Como defeat. In a further interview on Wednesday night with Sky Italia, the Portugal international referred to United’s storied history.
“At this club, there’s too much focus on what’s been done in the past,” said Fernandes. “But we’re not those people anymore. The club and the players need to understand that.
“Unfortunately for us – especially when it comes to the players – those who join expect to win trophies, win games, and reach the highest level, that’s been very difficult at this club in recent years.”
It remains unclear whether Carrick was aware of Fernandes’ comments before he spoke. When asked again whether he would strip the 32-year-old midfielder of the captaincy, Carrick repeated: “I will always do what is best for the football club.”
He declined to say whether he had spoken to Fernandes about his conduct, adding: “I don’t think this is the time to go into too much detail.”
Despite the challenge to his authority, Carrick insisted the dressing room was not divided. “No, it’s not,” he said. “We just need to get back to doing what we do best.”
Carrick also said the club were “doing everything” to support Fernandes and his family, whose Cheshire home was burgled on Wednesday. “Thankfully they weren’t directly affected even though it is an awful situation.”
Hurt fuels motivation
Carrick named legendary United figures, including Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Ferguson, as examples of the humility, sacrifice and hard work he expects from his players. That stance sat at odds with his post-match criticism on Wednesday, when he said that if players do not run forward or back properly, they will not win games.
Asked how he would persuade his squad to live up to those values, Carrick said: “It’s clear as day.
“I’m not telling you anything new. I haven’t invented that. That’s the make-up of any good football team. You have to earn the right to be better than your opponent. That never changes.
“What we look like as a group is my responsibility. That’s the privileged position I am in. I’ll hold that umbrella for me to get wet and everyone else to stay dry.
“[Wednesday] hurts an awful lot, but that doesn’t stop me. That hurt is used as pure motivation and inspiration to want more, expect more and get us going in a different direction.”