The secret in Ronaldo's experience: Rooney advises Carrick to solve Fernandez's crisis
Will the Manchester United manager impose his authority over the dressing room?
Michael Carrick faces a defining test on Sunday. The Manchester United manager takes his side into an eighth-round Premier League clash with Bournemouth, and he does so with Bruno Fernandes' comments after the heavy defeat to Como still ringing in his ears, remarks that sparked widespread controversy over the pair's relationship.
Those unusual words could now cost the captain his place in the starting line-up, just as Carrick needs to prove he can impose his authority inside the dressing room.
United have managed just 7 points from their last seven Premier League matches. That leaves them 15th, level with Crystal Palace behind them and a single point clear of Bournemouth in 17th.
Bruno's comments put Carrick under pressure
Carrick delivered a strong message at Friday's press conference. His opening statement ran for 5 minutes and 36 seconds before he took questions, covering the declining results, the importance of the fans, the club's history and what he expects from his players. Manchester United, he stressed, is bigger than any individual.
Humility and hard work were the words that stood out, in a message that looked squarely aimed at his players amid the slide in results and the pressure swirling around the team.
Those remarks followed public criticism from Fernandes after Manchester United's 4-1 defeat to Como. He questioned the manager's approach in one interview and turned his fire on the club in another, accusing it of living on past glories.
United are in the middle of it all. Two wins from the first 11 matches of the season, against newly promoted Ipswich Town and Azerbaijan's Sabah, tell the story.
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Bruno's numbers open the door to his departure
The criticism went beyond the Portuguese captain's words. It reached his displays on the pitch, too. Fernandes has four goals and one assist this season, but all six of those contributions came in just two matches, against Ipswich and Sabah. In the other nine, he managed neither a goal nor an assist.
That dip, coupled with his public criticism, leaves Carrick with a decision to make. He needs a swift reaction from his team, and a long injury list only makes the task harder.
Wayne Rooney, the former United captain, had already turned up the heat on Fernandes, suggesting a spell out of the spotlight might do him good. Rooney reckoned a long season and a World Cup campaign had blunted his sharpness and fitness.
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Ferguson and Ronaldo's experience: can Carrick repeat it?
Rooney pointed to Sir Alex Ferguson's handling of his former team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. The Manchester United legend would sometimes hand the Portuguese star an unexpected week off, aiming to restore his energy and bring him back sharper.
According to the Mirror, Rooney reckons Fernandes may need a similar break to rediscover his spark, warning that heaping more pressure on him could deepen his frustration and drag his level down. Carrick, meanwhile, refused to be drawn on whether he might strip Fernandes of the captain's armband. He insisted only that the interests of the team and club come first, and that he would make whatever decision serves Manchester United.
Having fired the team up after Ruben Amorim's departure before taking the role permanently in the summer, Carrick now has to prove he can handle a crisis. Leading the side through the good times is one thing.
Dropping Fernandes for the Bournemouth clash could prove a decisive move to restore discipline. It would show that any player's place, whatever his name, hinges on the good of the team.
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