Man United face Bournemouth with Fernandes in doubt and Carrick under pressure

Fernandes falls out with the coaching staff

Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United's captain, lost patience with the coaching setup after the 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como, turning on manager Michael Carrick in the aftermath. He had started all seven of United's Premier League games this season and all three of their Champions League fixtures, but was substituted on 67 minutes against Como in midweek. The outburst has left open whether he will start, or even be involved, against Bournemouth.

The episode follows a pattern at the club. Lisandro Martinez also criticised United in a post-match interview. He was not dropped for the next game, but he made a formal apology to the club and had to pay a fine.

Selection uncertainty before kickoff

The Telegraph reports that Fernandes has been dropped from the squad and says his absence is no surprise. The BBC's live coverage described the question of whether he would start or be involved as still open. The Independent said it remained uncertain whether Carrick would keep Fernandes as captain or start him in what it called a must-win fixture. Those accounts differ on the central question, and no source in the cluster has confirmed the team sheet.

A run of poor results

The Independent counts seven games without a win in all competitions and says Carrick's job is on the line. The Guardian puts it differently, noting that United have not won a league game in almost two months, and that their last league win came against Ipswich, who now sit five places above them in the table. The Guardian also reports consecutive home wins over Sturm Graz, Sunderland and Milan, with eight goals scored and none conceded since its earlier coverage. The Guardian's account of recent home wins and the Independent's count of seven winless games cannot both describe the same run, and the sources do not reconcile the two.

Bournemouth arrive in form

The Independent describes Bournemouth as flying high after their Europa League win over AC Milan. It reports that the side has six points from as many league games, and that Marco Rose will be determined to improve their standing in the table. The match is a test for both managers, with Carrick's future linked to the result and the squad decision on Fernandes still unresolved in the reporting available.