Bruno Fernandes dropped to Manchester United bench after criticising Michael Carrick's tactics

Bruno Fernandes has been dropped to the Manchester United bench for Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth, days after saying the blame for a heavy defeat was 'not on me'.

The United captain criticised Michael Carrick's tactics after Wednesday's 4-1 thrashing at Como in the Champions League.

Carrick is under heavy pressure amid United's dreadful start to the season. The Red Devils are without a win in seven games across all competitions, and have taken only seven points from their seven league fixtures.

Fernandes' controversial comments have split opinion. Speaking to TNT Sports after the loss in Italy, Fernandes questioned the approach that the coaching staff had asked the team to take.

"It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave a little space in behind and try to get the ball in the first moment, to wait for them, to give them the ball. "But sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confident, they have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot, make people get frustrated, and then obviously when you recover the ball the legs are, and the brain, much more difficult to make it work."

Asked if the tactics were to blame for the defeat, Fernandes added: "That's on the manager and on the staff to see it, it's not on me."

Bruno Fernandes dropped to the bench as Manchester United face Bournemouth after criticising Carrick’s tactics

Carrick was asked about the Fernandes situation at his pre-match press conference, but refused to discuss whether the 32-year-old could be stripped of the captaincy.

He's been named on the bench for this afternoon's Premier League fixture with Bournemouth, with summer signings Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans, and Andrey Santos in midfield.