Wayne Rooney has branded Bruno Fernandes a “selfish baby” after the Manchester United captain publicly criticized manager Michael Carrick’s tactics following a heavy defeat.
Public criticism after Como defeat
Fernandes broke ranks after Manchester United suffered a 4-1 loss against Como. The midfielder questioned the tactical decision not to press man-to-man, stating that the staff chose to leave space behind and wait for the opponent. When asked if Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes told reporters that evaluating that is the job of the manager and staff, adding that the team needed to be more brave under pressure and take the risk of pressing high.
Following the match, Carrick stated in a press conference that Fernandes’ comments were inaccurate and criticized his players for not running, while admitting the team’s performance was unacceptable.
Rooney calls for a break and criticizes player mentality
Speaking on The United Stand, Rooney advised Carrick to tell Fernandes to take a holiday to recharge his batteries and remove him from the firing line. Rooney explained that the midfielder has played a high number of games and lacks sharpness, comparing the situation to when Sir Alex Ferguson occasionally gave Cristiano Ronaldo a week off to rest.
Rooney expressed disbelief at the team’s performance against Como and labeled both Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez as “babies.” He referenced Martinez criticizing technical director Jason Wilcox previously, warning that such actions tear the dressing room apart because players refuse to take responsibility. According to Rooney, the players are selfish, do not care about teammates, the manager, staff, or fans, and act like babies throwing toys out of the pram to deflect blame.
