Bruno Fernandes
Michael Carrick has hailed the way Bruno Fernandes reacted to being dropped against Villarreal and for putting any frustration into a positive performance. Carrick is aware how badly Fernandes wants to play, but he’s delighted that the 27-year-old has channelled any frustration in the right way.
Michael Carrick said: “Of course every player wants to play in the big games. I was in such a fortunate position where I had terrific players to choose from. That is the responsibility I have. The only reaction that counts is what you saw Bruno do when he came on. He had such an influence on the game. Marcus [Rashford] as well. The pair looked fantastic when they came on. That is what counts. Everything else surrounding the game and the week, it is what happens on the pitch and how you carry yourself and how you perform and I thought Bruno was fantastic when he came on. It was exactly what we hoped for with the ideas we had for the game. I was delighted with that.”
Fernandes isn’t the only United player who struggled to find their best form in the final days of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer era, but at Watford last week he suggested the squad should be taking their share of the blame along with the Norwegian manager. The players reacted to Solskjaer’s dismissal by putting in an improved performance in Spain and Carrick knows the squad will have been feeling recently.
Michael Carrick said: “I was a player not so long ago, even though it feels like ages ago now. When results are not going how you want or you’re not performing the way you want to it’s not because you don’t care, it’s not about passion or effort, it’s the human element. The boys are desperate to win matches and showed that the other night. We got a bit of luck and came out on top. It’s about going back to basics, taking steps to being your best again. I have been there and you’re aware of your responsibility and what you’re expected to do and – more importantly – what you are capable of. As a player there is nothing more frustrating than not being at your best. I understand how the boys are feeling and they want to be back at best. I think that was a massive start for them the other night.”
Carrick’s spell as caretaker manager could end after the trip to Chelsea, with Ralf Rangnick poised to take over as interim boss until the end of the season.
Michael Carrick said: “I think whenever a new manager comes in or when anyone changes a job or they have a new boss in any walk of life, there is a feeling of what’s next, you can’t hide from that, that is normal, that is natural. People react to that in different ways, sometimes that gives them a freshness and a spark to go and be at their best and perform even better and some people are a little bit unsure, the confidence is knocked a bit because they don’t know if they are going to be in the team or the boss is going to like them. That is just normal and it is something you have got to cope with. It is not any different here to any other business or any other club.”
