Bruno Fernandes spoke candidly after Manchester United's thrilling 3-2 comeback win against Roma, refuting claims that his public criticism of manager Michael Carrick led to him being dropped. The Portuguese midfielder, who was named Man of the Match, admitted his performance had been subpar, justifying Carrick's decision to bench him for the previous match against Bournemouth.
"The manager made the decision of making myself on the bench because I wasn't performing. And that's fair," Fernandes stated in a post-match interview. He added that if his previous comments were seen as a punishment, then "it was right." The captain emphasized his belief in the manager, staff, and teammates, declaring his aim to win every upcoming game. "It doesn't change my aim to win every f***ing game that I have ahead of me," he said, with his strong language prompting an apology from Amazon Prime presenter Gabby Logan.
The victory provided a crucial lift for Manchester United and manager Carrick, whose job had reportedly been under pressure following recent poor performances. United had found themselves two goals down against Roma before Fernandes converted a re-taken penalty, followed by two late goals from Matheus Cunha to secure the win.
Fernandes acknowledged the speculation and "a lot of lies" circulating about the club and his relationship with Carrick. He clarified that, contrary to some reports, there had been no specific conversation to clear the air between him and the manager regarding his earlier comments, which had drawn criticism from pundits like Gary Neville.
Carrick, meanwhile, reflected on the significance of the comeback at Old Trafford. "This place does it (inspires comebacks)," he said. "No matter what situation you're in, how tough it can seem, the supporters are desperate to get behind you and we gave them something to go on." He expressed pride in the team's fight and acknowledged the magical atmosphere of the stadium during European nights. While he could not predict his future, Carrick emphasized the importance of preparing for their next league match against Aston Villa.
United player Youri Tielemans, who came on as a substitute, also spoke about the pressure on Carrick and how the team's fightback was a way to repay the manager. He stressed the importance of the team sticking behind Carrick and fighting for the club. Maze images Maze images