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Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has become the first player to speak publicly since the Red Devils' dismal defeat in Como and the resulting backlash. He maintains that the dressing room remains supportive of beleaguered manager Michael Carrick, despite the likes of Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes voicing concerns in recent weeks. United have endured a difficult campaign since their return to the Champions League, securing just two victories from their 11 matches across all competitions.
The scrutiny on Carrick has intensified following two of his senior players criticising the club after losses to Atletico Madrid and Como. Martinez aimed his criticism at United director of football Jason Wilcox, suggesting he believed the club failed to conduct sufficient transfer business during the summer window to support Carrick, leaving them undermanned for their European venture.
Fernandes channelled his disappointment towards Carrick and his backroom team following the abject defeat to Como, and speaking to TNT Sports, said: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence."
When questioned whether he believed the manager's tactics were at fault, Fernandes said: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."
Carrick was asked whether he'd strip Fernandes of the captaincy following the defeat to Como, but remained guarded and said he'd do what he felt was right for the football club.
Now, ahead of a crucial fixture against Bournemouth this weekend, Lammens has emerged in support of Carrick and insists the entire dressing room stands behind him.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the United goalkeeper said: "For me personally, I think it [the dressing room] is [behind Carrick].
"Of course, the people at home can't see that, so we need to also try to look like that when we are on the pitch in the weekend, but I can assure you that we're doing everything we can and we're all together behind the coach, as a staff, players, front office.
"Everyone knows, of course, they have to do better, but I think we are united and we are trying to get better as a team and together."
Lammens was pressed further on Fernandes' remarks in midweek and whether tactics were responsible for their difficulties this campaign.
He said: "Last season I felt like, playing-wise, maybe we played sometimes better this season, but last season everything just clicked and went the right way for us.
"We struggled as a team together when they pressed us, but we didn't concede that many goals, and then I think as a counter team a bit more last season we did really well, but you also know, I think everybody knew that we had to improve as well from that, that teams were going to change the way they played against us.
"So that's why we had to evolve this season and in preseason, we tried to do some different things to get us in the best position to win games.
"I think we need a little bit more like last season, the way we fought together, even when it wasn't going the best and just trying to fight as a team and defend as a team, I think that's probably something we need to try to get back to."
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