Note, if this isn’t the last game for Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, I don’t understand anything. – Manchester United are now 1 point above the relegation line in the Premier League.
Before kick-off, the news came that Michael Carrick had benched captain Bruno Fernandes, which “of course” had nothing to do with the events of the last few days”
Five coaches relevant for Manchester United – only two are ready to take the job
“It’s just for football reasons”
It was after the 4-1 loss to Como on Wednesday that Bruno Fernandes rightly questioned Manchester United’s tactics.
“It’s the decision of the coaching staff – not to push man to man, but to leave some distance between the players and let them have the ball. When you give teams like this a lot of the ball, they become confident,” the United captain said.
When the starting eleven was announced for the home game against Bournemouth on Sunday, Fernandes was missing. The Portuguese thus started a Premier League game on the bench for the first time since May 2025. “He was on the bench throughout the game.
“When you have multiple options, it’s always a difficult decision. We have to make the right decisions for today’s game and for the team so that we can perform the way we want to. It’s only for football reasons.”
New failure at Old Trafford – booed by own fans
After the loss to Como in the Champions League, all eyes were on Carrick and United on Sunday when Bournemouth visited Old Trafford.Already when the eleven was released, eyebrows were raised when captain Fernandes was benched.
What followed was no revenge for the English coach. On the contrary.
Bournemouth won 3-0 after several individual errors.
“This is a nightmare for Manchester United. It’s a real problem for Carrick. This is a real mess,” United legend Gary Neville said on Sky Sports.
Rayan scored 1-0 after 38 minutes, when Leny Yoro symptomatically slipped on the grass with Adrien Truffert hot on his heels. Truffert found Marcus Tavernier, who scored 2-0 before half-time.
Michael Carrick spoke to BBC MOTD about the fans’ reaction:
“Mixed feelings – feeling the connection and appreciation from the supporters, I feel it and really appreciate it.
Mixed feelings – the situation we’re in as a football club is what I care about the most. It’s not about me. It’s about this whole place and being in a better situation and position than we are in right now.
It makes me sad to have that feeling when I’m standing there. I feel so connected to it, and it’s a huge responsibility – that’s how I feel, and I accept my role in it as well. Feeling that from the supporters was special in a way – it’s nice to have their connection and appreciation.”
Was it a farewell trip?
“No, not on my part. There was no tear, just appreciation for the fans and what they have shown me.”
Do you expect conversations about the future?
“We’ll see what happens. I don’t expect anything. It’s just about digesting today – we knew it was an important day to try and get us forward and we haven’t been able to do that. For me, it’s just about digesting it, and the emotions at the end of the game are something I haven’t really experienced before.
I’ve got the energy, for sure – it means so much to me. You’ve got games to focus on and bring the players together. The responsibility of doing that I like – I love it, that’s what I’m here for.”
At half-time, Manchester United and Michael Carrick were booed at Old Trafford.
Evanilson then put the nail in the coffin with 3-0 after rounding Senne Lammens.
“It’s a nightmare for Michael Carrick. A complete nightmare,” Neville said.
That was also the final score. At the final whistle, the loud boos came back from the supporters who had not yet left the stadium. The result means United’s eighth straight game without a win – the worst streak in 11 years.
“I was already thinking last season that the club should have gone for the best coach they could get, rather than giving the job to Michael Carrick,” Neville said in Sky.
“I felt like this could happen so quickly, but the situation has turned into a complete disaster very, very quickly, and the club is in chaos.”
United have now picked up seven points from eight rounds and are just one point above the relegation place. United face Chelsea next – it remains to be seen whether Carrick still has confidence then.
Starting XI:
Manchester United: Lammens – Dalot, Maguire, Yoro, Heaven – Santos, Baleba – Amad, Tielemans, Mount – Mbeumo
Bournemouth: Petrović – Smith, Hill, Silva, Truffert – Cook, Adams – Rayan, Kluivert, Tavernier – Evanilson
It is not enough to sack Michael Carrick! – Sporting director Jason Wilcox must also go!
