Gary Neville has taken aim at Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes after the side’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

United’s start to the 2026/27 campaign hit a new low on Sunday (October 25), as Michael Carrick’s side put in an awful performance in front of a dismayed Old Trafford crowd. Strikes from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson rounded off a historic week for Bournemouth, with the Cherries securing a victory over AC Milan last Thursday (October 22).

For United, the latest defeat has ramped up the pressure on Carrick, with reports suggesting the club’s hierarchy will hold a crisis meeting over the head coach’s future this week.

Gary Neville directly calls out Bruno Fernandes

Carrick made the brave decision to drop Fernandes to the bench after he publicly questioned his tactics following the 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League on October 21.

Speaking ahead of the defeat to Bournemouth, Carrick said it was a “pure football” decision to drop the Portuguese, who did not come on despite the home side being bereft of attacking threat for much of the clash.

Despite Fernandes sitting on the bench, this did not stop former United captain-turned-pundit Neville from delivering a scathing attack on the current skipper on his podcast.

The ex-United right-back claimed Fernandes was “letting himself down” with how he had acted over the past week before accusing him of having “stuck the knife into his manager”.

“Eric Cantona was very unorthodox as a captain,” Neville said. “Roy Keane could sometimes be explosive in his interviews after matches, but they weren’t whingers about the tactics, about pressing, or excuse merchants.

“Bruno can’t press. To come out and whinge after the game about the manager’s tactics, when you’ve just lost 4-1 and a few thousand fans have paid thousands of pounds to travel over, sit in that far corner and get wet through. I’m sorry, read the room, Bruno.

“This is not a time for whinging or throwing your arms up in the air. This is a time for you to stand up and say, ‘That’s not good enough.’ Be positive. Do something that has a positive influence as a captain. But he’s not.

“He’s gone and basically thrown his manager under the bus the week after [Lisandro] Martinez did the same.”

Fernandes’ comments came a week after Lisandro Martinez’s rant, in which he publicly called out the club’s recruitment and sporting director, Jason Wilcox, after the 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

“They weren’t singing for Bruno Fernandes to come on today; they’re backing Michael Carrick,” Neville said of United’s supporters.

“So get in your box. You know where you stand.

“Michael Carrick has won things for the football club consistently and proven that he has humility and resilience. And Bruno has got that. Bruno has delivered for Manchester United in more ways than any other player in the last 13 years.

“And he’s the one player I think you could take back in time, and I think he could play in a Manchester United team in the 90s or the 2000s because he’s massively talented. But he let himself down this week.

“He didn’t need to do that, because he’s basically stuck the knife into his manager.”

Neville also claimed right-back Leny Yoro and left-back Diogo Dalot “should not be playing for Manchester United”, while saying the whole defence needs ripping up.

Neville continued: “You've now got no defenders, and that is absolute negligence to leave that defence out on that pitch. I keep saying, and I'm being really kind because, to be fair, there are human beings out there, and you know, my words can be fair, because I've played out there in that shirt, it's not easy sometimes. But Leny Yoro should not be playing right back for Manchester United.

"Diogo Dalot should not be playing left back for Manchester United. Ayden Heaven is still learning his trade, but he should be learning his trade, probably developing in certain matches, not these types of matches.”

No decision has been made on Carrick’s future at this time, although former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann are the frontrunners to replace him at Old Trafford should he be sacked.

What did Michael Carrick say about his future?

After the match, Carrick appeared to wave towards supporters, with some observers suggesting this was a farewell gesture.

However, speaking after the game, the United boss said this was not the case.

“It wasn’t a farewell from me,” Carrick said on Sky Sports.

“I have mixed emotions. I’m feeling it for my players; they’re going through a tough spell. Some of it we can help with; in some situations, things unravel and the boys are feeling it at the moment.

“I have mixed emotions about the supporters responding in that way. To have that connection with them brings mixed emotions. It’ll take a bit of time to digest, but I certainly appreciate their support.

“The situation is where we are, and we haven’t had results or performances that have been good enough.”

United return to action away at Chelsea on October 31.