Fernandes insists players didn't need to save Carrick's job

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 00:16 · Archive

Manchester United came from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2, with Bruno Fernandes scoring a penalty in their comeback.

Manchester United produced a remarkable second-half comeback at Old Trafford, coming from 2-0 down against Roma to win 3-2. The Italian side took the lead within the first 18 minutes, prompting boos and protests from supporters who threw tennis balls onto the pitch. The turnaround began when Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty on 58 minutes, with Matheus Cunha then scoring twice to complete the comeback. The win ended a run of nine games without victory, and came after United had narrowly avoided equalling their longest winless run in a single season since March 1978.

Fernandes spoke to the media after the match for the first time since being dropped to the bench. He had criticised manager Michael Carrick's tactics after a 4-1 defeat to Como and was an unused substitute in the subsequent defeat to Bournemouth before being restored for this game.

When asked whether the result would save Carrick's job, Fernandes told Amazon Prime: 'We don't need to save anyone's job.' He said the club and players needed the win and had 'been working so hard to get out of this situation altogether'. He acknowledged there had been 'a lot of speculation in the media' and said he and Carrick had 'cleared the air'.

Fernandes reflected on his omission, saying Carrick was correct to drop him. 'The manager took a decision of putting myself on the bench because I wasn't performing,' he said. 'Everyone felt like that was a punishment for the words that I had. And if it was, it was right.'

He added that the decision did not change his belief in Carrick or the staff, and that it would not affect his aim to win every game ahead. All three outlets reported that the performance suggested some on-pitch support for Carrick, whose job had appeared to be under threat.

How it is being reported

• ‘I wasn’t performing’: Bruno Fernandes says Carrick was right to drop him after criticism‘If it was punishment for the words, it was right’ Carrick hails ‘magical’ Old Trafford after comeback win Bruno Fernandes said Michael Carrick was correct to drop him last month as he reflected on a remarkable Manchester United comeback win against Roma at Old Trafford. A twice-taken penalty from Fernandes set United’s revival from 2-0 down in motion, two goals from Matheus Cunha ultimately sealing a win that could yet save the embattled Carrick’s job. Continue reading...The Guardian · 3 Nov, 23:49
• 'We don't need to save anyone's job,' says Man Utd captain FernandesBruno Fernandes says Manchester United's players "don't need to save anyone's job" after their improbable comeback win against Roma.BBC News · 3 Nov, 22:37
• Fernandes claims players don't need to save Carrick's job, but did they?Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has come out in support of head coach Michael Carrick, but reiterated that the players didn't need to save his job in their 3-2 comeback win against Roma.Sky Sports Football · 3 Nov, 22:28
• Fernandes claims players don't need to save Carrick's job, but did they?Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has come out in support of head coach Michael Carrick, but reiterated that the players didn't need to save his job in their 3-2 comeback win against Roma.Sky Sports · 3 Nov, 22:28

In this story: Bruno Fernandes · Michael Carrick · Matheus Cunha · Manchester United · Roma · Old Trafford

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log