Rooney accuses Fernandes and United squad of selfishness after Carrick tactics row

Wayne Rooney has launched a stinging attack on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and the wider squad, accusing them of selfishness and a refusal to accept responsibility following the club’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como on Wednesday.

Fernandes sparked a public row when he questioned head coach Michael Carrick’s tactical approach in a post-match interview, criticising the decision not to press high and suggesting the staff needed to be “more brave under pressure”. Carrick responded by pointing to the players’ own application, while pundits Joe Cole and Roy Keane both condemned Fernandes for airing the club’s internal grievances publicly.

Rooney went further, telling The United Stand that the episode was symptomatic of a deeper cultural problem at Old Trafford. “When Martinez came out and criticised Jason Wilcox, I said this is an absolute nightmare because it will rip the dressing room apart; that was the start,” Rooney said. “We’ve seen it now with Bruno, and you’re going to see it with more players because they don’t want to take responsibility.”

The former United and England striker did not spare the broader squad. “You can say whether Bruno was right or wrong in what he said, but you have to take responsibility on the pitch; you have to take responsibility as a group of players. These players, they’re selfish. They don’t care about their team-mates, the manager, the staff, or the fans. They care about themselves. If they’re not getting what’s right for them, they’re like babies and just throw their toys out of the pram and go and deflect the blame onto anyone else but themselves.”

The defeat to Como leaves United with just two wins from their opening 11 matches of the 2026/27 season — a Premier League victory over promoted Ipswich Town and a Champions League win against Azerbaijani champions Sabah. Carrick, appointed on a permanent basis after securing the club’s European qualification, has now overseen seven matches without a win across all competitions, and United have not won away from Old Trafford since he took the role full-time.

The pressure on Carrick is mounting ahead of a home Premier League fixture against Bournemouth on Sunday, followed by a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea the following weekend.