How Big A Problem Is Bruno Fernandes For Manchester United?

Even as Manchester United suffered yet another disappointing defeat, losing 3-0 at home to Bournemouth just days after a damaging 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League, Michael Carrick refused to turn to Bruno Fernandes who had been dropped to the bench for the Premier League fixture.

Carrick insisted Fernandes’s exile from the lineup was a “pure football” decision, but it’s fair to assume there was more to it than that. After all, it was only a few days ago that Fernandes said it was the staff’s decision “not to press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little bit of space in behind.” The club’s captain’s comments were pointed.

With Manchester United now without a win in its last eight games in all competitions, Carrick is under serious pressure. The former midfielder could soon be dismissed as manager of the Old Trafford club although not many supporters are blaming Carrick for the situation the team finds itself in.

For years, Fernandes has been Manchester United’s best player. He won the Player of the Year award in the Premier League last season. However, the Portuguese has been at the centre of a dressing room drama that has seen both Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez make public comments that have targeted the manager and the leadership at Old Trafford.

“He’s fit and available but we decided to pick the team that we did today,” said Carrick when asked why Fernandes didn’t feature against Bournemouth. “Unfortunately for everyone we didn’t manage to get the right result. We want to push forward and create more, we could’ve done certain things but not enough really and that’s pretty clear.”

There has been speculation around Fernandes’s future at Old Trafford in the past. Saudi Pro League clubs have reportedly weighed up an offer for the Portuguese international while Galatasaray is believed to have registered an interest in the summer transfer window. Fernandes has his admirers.

Radical change is required at Manchester United for the club to one day return to the top of English and European soccer. Selling Fernandes would raise funds to invest in others areas of a squad that is desperately lacking in some key positions - see the left back area and the centre forward role.

As a leader, Fernandes’s ability has been questioned and it appears he has lost faith in Carrick as Manchester United manager. Just because Carrick appears likely to be on his way out of Old Trafford soon doesn’t mean United shouldn’t also consider the future of its under-fire captain.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com