Joe Cole Slams Fernandes for Publicly Questioning Carrick's Tactics

Joe Cole has criticised Bruno Fernandes for questioning Michael Carrick's tactics in public after Manchester United's heavy defeat at Como, calling it "simply unacceptable" for a club captain.

Speaking on TNT Sports, the former England midfielder said it did not matter whether Fernandes was right or wrong. "[He's] absolutely questioning the tactics. 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'. He probably thinks he's clever, [like saying] 'well, I didn't really say it, gaffer'. You said what you said, you thought they got the tactics wrong. You can think that, that's fine. You can go into the manager's office tomorrow, and say, 'I think you got it wrong, gaffer'. Have a man-to-man conversation."

Cole also said the captain's armband makes it worse, and he looked back to the club's glory years. "To come out in front of the nation, when you're captain of the football club, and question the manager is simply unacceptable. Bruno has really got that wrong. If you're captain of Manchester United, you cannot come out and question the tactics. It would not have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson."

Fernandes spoke to TNT Sports after the game and blamed the coaching staff's plan. "It's a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man. But sometimes when you give too much of the ball to these teams, they get confidence. They have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot, make people frustrated."

Asked if the tactics were wrong, he passed it back to the manager. "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. I just said that I think sometimes we have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Cesc Fabregas' Como had 55 per cent of the ball as they took United apart. It is the second time in a week that a senior United player has spoken out. 

Defender Lisandro Martinez said he wanted "more from our technical director" on summer transfers after a 2-0 defeat at Atletico Madrid. 

He later apologised. "The frustration of the defeat led me to express how I felt at a time and place that perhaps were not the right ones, and for that I want to apologise."

With two European defeats in a row and senior players speaking out about both the club's recruitment and the coaching staff, Carrick has work to do to win back the dressing room. 

How he deals with his captain before Sunday's Premier League game against Bournemouth could shape his time in charge.