- Published
Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been dropped for Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth.
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Fernandes → publish → Bournemouth
Fernandes' place in the team has been debated since his explosive comments after Wednesday's Champions League humiliation by Como, when he blamed manager Michael Carrick for United's tactics in the 4-1 defeat and his failure to alter them.
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he → debate → them
Carrick refused to say in his media conference on Friday whether Fernandes would be dropped.
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Fernandes → refuse → Friday
That has now happened, with the Portugal midfielder left on the bench as United aim to end a seven-match run without a win in all competitions.
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United → happen → competitions
Asked about the selection on Sky Sports, Carrick called Fernandes' omission "a football decision".
"When you have options it's always a difficult decision.
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it → ask → options
We have to make the right one for today and the team to get that performance we want," he added.
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he → have → performance
Harry Maguire takes over as captain, with Mason Mount handed a playmaking role along with Youri Tielemans.
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Mount → take → Tielemans
It is only the sixth time Fernandes has been left on the bench for a Premier League game.
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Fernandes → leave → game
That past two, at the end of the 2024-25 season, were to keep him fresh for important Europa League games.
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two → keep → games
They have won just one of their last 10 Premier League games without Fernandes in the starting XI (D3 L6), beating Newcastle 1-0 in December.
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They → win → December
Matheus Cunha is also on the bench after being replaced at half-time in Italy, along with Lisandro Martinez, who spoke out about the United hierarchy following the 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid this month.
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who → replace → Madrid
Martinez started at Leeds last week but was left out of the Como game because of injury.
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Martinez → start → injury
"[He is] not quite [fit enough] - it was touch and go but it wasn't worth the risk."
Carrick referred to the Como debacle in his programme notes for Sunday's game.
"Manchester United is a truly great football club," he said.
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he → go → game
"Our standards and values have been set out over generations and are very important to me.
"
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standards → set → me
As a group, we have a duty to represent you in a manner that is befitting of those principles.
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that → have → principles
Today we have to show what we are all about.
"
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we → have → what
We all need to stick together but we know that we absolutely have to do better for you.
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we → need → you
Now, as a group, we need to put in a performance that your support deserves."
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support → need → that
'It's half a sanction again' - what the pundits said
European football expert Julien Laurens talking on BBC Radio 5 Live:
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pundits → say → Radio
I think if the sanctions against Lisandro Martinez had been the right ones, I'm not sure Bruno would have said that after the Como game.
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Bruno → think → game
It's about boundaries and having to set limits for your own squad so things like that don't happen and now, for two senior players within the space of six days to go after the sporting director, your owners, your manager, your staff is just embarrassing.
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players → have → director
Leave him at home, he doesn't need to be on the bench - it's half of a sanction again.
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it → leave → sanction
He's just going to be behind Carrick and I don't think he should be there full stop.
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he → go → Carrick
It's a big call but I think it's the right call.
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it → think → ?
A lot of people have raised eyebrows but I do think it's the right call.
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it → raise → eyebrows
You can't call out the manager like that tactically.
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You → call → that
When I was a player, I had a big mouth myself, but one thing I'd do was I'd go toe-to-toe and say it to the manager, or in the changing room or in front of people.
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I → have → people
I wouldn't go out and say it in the media.
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I → go → media
But if they don't get a result and you've dropped your best player and your captain, it will fall back on Michael Carrick.
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it → get → Carrick
Bruno Fernandes is Manchester United's best player, we can't get away from that.
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we → get → that
He had to make the stand, Michael Carrick.
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He → have → Carrick
Even though he's the best player, there will be a lot of people who don't actually like playing with him in the United team.
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who → like → team
He's permanently throwing his arms up at people, he's basically saying, 'you're not good enough to play with me'.
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you → throw → me
That's what we see from Fernandes a lot when things aren't going right for United.
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things → see → United
'Bruno has been poor' - what you said
Daryl: Fernandes, and anyone else not fully behind the manager and his way of thinking, should be dropped.
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Fernandes → drop → thinking
He spends too much time dragging the team down with his silly childish antics.
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He → spend → antics
He was the captain, talk about not leading by example.
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He → lead → example
His outburst may have been better received if he was still performing like last season, but ultimately he isn't.
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he → receive → season
I would've done the same.
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I → do → same
It's one thing if Fernandes had gone to Carrick in private and said what he said.
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he → go → what
…and 1 more, not listed.
The Aporia
