POWER PLAY! Fernandes DROPPED as Man Utd boss Carrick reacts to midweek outburst by benching skipper for make-or-break Bournemouth clash

Bruno Fernandes has been dropped by Manchester United just days after he took aim at Michael Carrick.

The Red Devils skipper, who by his own high standards has underperformed this season, laid the blame for the team's failed press on his manager in the aftermath of the 4-1 defeat in Como.

He became the second United player to go public with his frustrations after Lisandro Martinez had done likewise. But whilst the defender retained his starting role for last weekend's draw at Leeds, Fernandes has been benched by Carrick for the game against Bournemouth.

Carrick said there were "always difficult decisions" when picking a team, and that his call to snub Fernandes was "purely football" as he was quizzed on whether his comments influenced his selection.

Fernandes has previously been the team's talisman but, during a run of just two wins in 11 games, even the Portuguese's performances have come in for criticism.

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Fernandes had started all 24 Premier League games under Carrick, but in his absence Bryan Mbeumo, Amad and Mason Mount will be United's attacking trio in front of a midfield three featuring all of their summer signings.

Carrick began Friday's press conference by not taking any questions, instead launching into a five minutes speech where he acknowledged the results were not up to standard, but made it known that he wanted more graft from his player.

He said, with multiple references to the past: "It was never about Ryan Giggs, it was never about Ryan Giggs, it was about Manchester United. Wayne Rooney, the greatest goalscorer in the club’s history, he played for team.

"Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest manager in the club’s history... Sir Matt [Busby] and Sir Bobby [Charlton], their resilience was beyond belief what they showed and how they rebuilt this football club. It was built on hard work, and we should never forget that."

After losing in midweek, which was their second Champions League reverse in three games, Fernandes said: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence."

Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, the playmaker added: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Told of Fernandes' comments in his post-match press conference, Carrick offered a curt response: "There's a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."