Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf slammed Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for his comments on manager Michael Carrick after his team’s 4-1 loss against Como in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
After the loss, Fernande questioned Carrick’s tactics, as he said: “It was a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind.”
Carrick responded to his captain’s comments and said: “Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you aren’t going to win.”
Leboeuf blasted the Portuguese and Manchester United teammates after the loss.
“We witnessed a betrayal. A betrayal towards the coach, towards the fans and towards the club from the players,” Leboeuf said while talking to ESPN. “We have to blame the players. We have to make them guilty for what we see.
“You can talk about the tactic, maybe it wasn’t the best tactic. But maybe Michael Carrick knows too much about the players and what they’re incapable of doing. It’s why he was maybe a little bit too defensive … Those players, they’re letting him down,” he added.
“They don’t run for him. They don’t run for the club, they don’t give 100%. And Bruno Fernandes … That guy, what I see too much is cheating, crying, complaining. Yes, he’s a great player but start running, stop talking!
“After Lisandro Martínez, some players talk too much. Just do your job. Try to do your job for the club, for the fans, for the players. You are not there. You are absolutely invisible.
“That was awful and appalling because the players didn’t do the job.”
On the other hand, former England midfielder Joe Cole concurred with Leboeuf and slammed Fernandes for his comments on Carrick.
“[He’s] absolutely questioning the tactics,” Cole said. “It doesn’t matter whether he is right to. That’s sacrilege.
“I’ve played for managers where I don’t agree with the tactics. You might say that to your mate or your wife, but you don’t come out as captain of the club and question the manager.
“He doesn’t even do it properly. If you’re going to come out, be bold, and say it with your chest. He sort of says, ‘we could have been this, but then it’s up to the manager.’
Manchester United will next take on Bournemouth on Sunday at Old Trafford.
Image credits: Marco Luzzani / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
