Rooney warns Fernandes 'explosion' is coming as Pogba backs Carrick to turn United around

Wayne Rooney has issued a stark warning that Bruno Fernandes is on the verge of a public outburst at Manchester United, as the club’s poor start to the season — one league win from six — continues to pile pressure on manager Michael Carrick.

Speaking on the Stick to United podcast, Rooney said Fernandes, United’s captain and most influential player, is visibly running out of patience. “He’s fed up. I genuinely do think he looks, ‘Oh, here we go again.’ There are only so many times,” Rooney said. “He has carried the team, but sometimes you need taking out of that position, of that role, to breathe again. I feel like now you can see it building up and there’s going to be an explosion with him if this carries on.”

Rooney also questioned the club’s midfield structure, arguing that Kobbie Mainoo and Youri Tielemans lack the mobility to operate as a two. “All of a sudden, then you’ve got Mainoo and Tielemans, who are not the quickest and not the most mobile, to cover the full width of the pitch as two midfield players, and they can’t do it,” he added, calling for a return to three in the middle.

United’s struggles have been well documented. They were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton and their most recent home fixture — a 1-1 draw with Tottenham despite Spurs being reduced to ten men in the 78th minute — did little to ease the scrutiny on Carrick. Next up is a trip to Elland Road to face Leeds United, a fixture that carries added significance: the last time United made that journey, they drew 1-1 in January and Ruben Amorim was dismissed the following morning.

Not everyone is ready to write Carrick off, however. Former United midfielder Paul Pogba, who made 233 appearances and scored 39 goals across two spells at the club, offered a measured defence of the manager. “It’s just the start of the season, there’s nothing much to say — the season is very long,” Pogba said. “He showed last season when he came, everybody said he was the manager that will change everything. Now that the results don’t come they say maybe he’s too young. One day or the other it can change a lot, they just have to give them time and it will be fine.”

Carrick’s position remains under scrutiny, but with a full season still ahead and a vocal former player in his corner, the verdict from Old Trafford’s wider jury is far from unanimous.