Bruno Fernandes is DROPPED from Manchester United's starting XI for Bournemouth - with Red Devils captain on the bench for the first time in almost five years after questioning Michael Carrick's tactics following Como loss

· DailyMail

NATHAN SALT AT OLD TRAFFORD: Bruno Fernandes has been DROPPED from Manchester United's line-up for the first time in almost five years.

Bruno Fernandes has been DROPPED from Manchester United 's line-up for the first time in almost five years just days after he publicly questioned boss Michael Carrick 's tactics.

Following the shambolic 4-1 defeat away to Como in the Champions League , Carrick has ruled with an iron fist by dropping his ever-present captain to the bench for Sunday's clash against AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

Fernandes is usually the first name on the teamsheet and is rarely ever taken off, never mind left out from the start.

It represents the first time Fernandes has been pulled from the line-up for non-fitness reasons since Carrick, again, took him out against Villarreal in November 2021.

In truth, Carrick had to cement his power as the manager of the football club and the public criticism of the tactics in Como could not go unpunished.

Speaking at a defiant press conference on Friday, Carrick laid bare that no individual is bigger than the club.

Bruno Fernandes has been dropped from Manchester United's starting XI to face Bournemouth

He cut a downcast figure as he arrived at Old Trafford on Sunday ahead of United's must-win

United head coach Michael Carrick made the decision after Fernandes questioned his tactics

> 'The most important thing for me is the team, first and foremost,' Carrick said. 'I'll always do what's best for the football club.'

Fernandes, who is usually very deliberate in what he says in the media, was scathing in his criticism of coaches after the Como debacle.

> 'It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little space in behind and try to get the ball in the first moment, to wait for them, to give them the ball,' he said.

> 'But sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confident, they have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot, make people get frustrated, and then obviously when you recover the ball the legs are, and the brain, much more difficult to make it work.'

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