Fernandes Backs Carrick but Says Players Never Had to Save His Job

Bruno Fernandes has come out in support of Michael Carrick, but the Manchester United captain was quick to add a caveat: the players did not need to rescue the head coach's position with their performance against Roma.

United recovered from a deficit to win 3-2, a result that will ease some of the pressure around the dugout. Fernandes' comments point to a squad that sees its job as looking after the team's results rather than the fate of any one person, and he suggested the win should be judged on what it did for the group.

Carrick's position has been a talking point, and backing from the dressing room carries weight. Fernandes' message is that the responsibility for results sits with the players on the pitch, not with a single comeback night.

Whether the victory changes the wider debate around Carrick will depend on the results that follow. For now, United have a win to build on, and their captain has made clear where he thinks the accountability lies.