Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has stated that his team does not need to save anyone's job following their remarkable comeback win against Roma in the Champions League. The Red Devils produced a stunning second-half fightback, coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 and end a nine-game winless run. Fernandes made the comments while speaking to the media after the match.
Fernandes was speaking to the media for the first time since being dropped to the bench after publicly criticising manager Michael Carrick's tactics in the wake of their 4-1 loss at Como. He was restored to the team for the Premier League defeat by Chelsea, and his penalty on 58 minutes sparked an incredible revival to ease some of the pressure on Carrick. Fernandes' comments come as a relief to the team and fans, who had been speculating about the potential sacking of Carrick.
When asked if the result would save Carrick's job, Fernandes told Amazon Prime: "We don't need to save anyone's job." He continued: "The club needed that win, the players needed that win. We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together." Fernandes also clarified that there had been a lot of speculation in the media regarding his relationship with Carrick, but they had cleared the air and he was not performing well enough to start.
Fernandes' critical comments in Como led to him being an unused substitute in the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, while reports said he and Carrick held clear-the-air talks before he returned to the starting line-up against Chelsea. Former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel defended Fernandes, stating that what is reported in the media is often not the truth. Schmeichel expressed hope that Manchester United and Carrick can draw a line under the public controversy and focus on winning games.
Manchester United's win over Roma was their second win from four Champions League games this season, lifting them up to 17th in the league phase table. Midfielder Youri Tielemans echoed Fernandes' sentiments, stating that the team needed to stick behind Carrick and fight for the club. Tielemans added that the comeback victory was a "big character, big fight" performance, which was a good way to repay Carrick for his efforts.
Kobbie Mainoo, another Manchester United player, described the win as a "relief" and expressed hope that the team can build on the momentum. The win ended United's nine-game winless run and provided a much-needed boost to the team's morale. Carrick was widely expected to be sacked following the Bournemouth game, but United's board decided to give him the opportunity to turn things around.
The win over Roma provides some respite for Carrick, who had been under immense pressure following a poor start to the season. Manchester United sit 17th in the Premier League with just one win from their opening nine games. Fernandes' comments and the team's performance will provide some encouragement to fans and the club's board, who will be hoping for continued improvement in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes says his team does not need to save anyone's job following their comeback win against Roma.
