Jamie Carragher was scathing in his criticism of Bruno Fernandes after the midfielder appeared to criticise Michael Carrick's tactics in Manchester United's 4-1 defeat to Champions League debutants Como.
Fernandes and Carrick appeared to trade barbs in their post-match comments to the travelling media after the United legend's future as head coach was thrown into doubt following the damaging result in Italy.
Afterwards, Fernandes, who was subbed off after 67 minutes, appeared to question Carrick's tactics by saying, "it was a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind."
When his captain's comments were put to him, Carrick 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."
- Dawson: Man United players were abysmal in Como, but it's Carrick who faces consequences
Speaking in his role as a pundit on U.S. broadcaster CBS, Carragher accepted things haven't worked out for the United manager this season, but he defended Carrick's rebuttal and said Fernandes has an "awful attitide" and "is not what a Manchester United captain should be."
United defender Lisandro MartÃnez was criticial of the United hierarchy's activity in the summer transfer window after the team's 2-0 defeat to Atlético Madrid last week. He subsequently apologised and started their Premier League draw at Leeds on Sunday.
"We said Lisandro MartÃnez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy above him. For Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really," Carragher said.
"When you think about last season, he got player of the year. That was on the back of Michael Carrick becoming the manager. He wouldn't have got that award without Michael Carrick, because Michael Carrick put him back in his rightful position and he then went on to have a fantastic season because he's a talented footballer. But when you think of him as a footballer, he's a talent, but in terms of attitude and the way he goes about things, it's not right at all.
"And he's reacted like that because he's been brought off and he's been embarrassed tonight by the manager as he brought him off. And when he talks about pressing, whether it's man to man or zonal, for years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press because he does things for the crowd.
"I commentate on games watching Man United and he runs all over the place like a kid in the schoolyard for the supporters. They all think he's working hard -- he's not. He's killing the rest of the team doing it."
- Man United make unwanted history for English clubs in Europe
Carragher defends Carrick for having 'a little pop back' at Fernandes
United's defeat at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia Stadium was the fifth defeat in 11 games for Carrick's team this season.
In the opposite dugout was former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas who has gained a reputation as one of Europe's most talented young managers. It was put to Carragher how United compare to a team like Como that is playing with a clear identity.
Carragher replied: "Isn't it funny? How many managers has he had, Bruno Fernandes? So every single manager at Manchester United doesn't have an identity? How many managers are we on now for Bruno Fernandes? Five? They change the manager every season... Manchester United is rotten from top to bottom.
"I said earlier on, it's not about the manager. It's everything about the club. And who has got the answers? We comment on it all the time, 'they might need to change the manager or do this, do that.' Are we ever right really? Because no one ever seems to get it right. But listen, there's no doubt the manager needs to be changed now. Right now this can't go on for a club of the stature of Manchester United.
"But I'm glad Michael Carrick come out and just said that about Bruno Fernandes, that he don't run, because they don't run, this team.
"And what he did last season, no one's proclaiming Michael Carrick as one of the greatest managers in European football, but what he did was he come and helped his own football club last year when he was out of work himself. He's come in and he did amazing.
"And the reason Manchester United are in the Champions League is because of Carrick -- he got them in there. The reason they got another 100, 150 million pounds into the club is because he got them in. No one though he was going to get into the Champions League last season. So I feel for him a little bit. He loves the club, he's a legendary figure as a player, but obviously it's not working out for him as a manager and that needs to be changed.
"But I'm delighted he brought him off, Fernandes, and I'm delighted that he had a little pop back there in the press because that's what they need some of those players."
United host Bournemouth in their next Premier League fixture on Sunday.
