Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has addressed the differences between playing for Michael Carrick and ex-boss Ruben Amorim
Bruno Fernandes has claimed that the freedom Michael Carrick has afforded his Manchester United players is improving their performances on the pitch. Carrick succeeded Ruben Amorim in an interim capacity after the Portuguese head coach was sacked in January.
Amorim was understood to have governed his players at Old Trafford with strict rules. The 41-year-old even banned food from the dressing room after emphasising the need to improve fitness standards.
United’s new man in charge is believed to have dismantled that policy by turning the club’s changing room into a more communal space where players can freely express themselves. The faith he has shown in his squad is paying off, with United now well-placed in the race for Champions League spots.
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Carrick also served as caretaker manager between November and December 2021, following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s departure. Fernandes discussed how the ex-England star has built on his first spell in charge, suggesting the players now feel they’re being treated like adults, in contrast to Amorim’s micromanagement of their daily routines.
“This is football, football changes from one game to the other,” Fernandes told TNT Sports following United’s 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in February.
“I think Michael [Carrick] came in with the right ideas of giving the players the responsibility, but also some freedom to take the responsibility on the pitch during the decisions that are needed.
“He’s very good with words and I think he still remembers when I told him last time he was our manager, for our last game, and I was sure Michael could be a great manager and now he is showing it.”
Amorim endured a rotten 14-month spell at United, winning only 24 of his 63 games in charge across all competitions. He also lost the Europa League final to Spurs last season.
The former Sporting CP manager’s average of 1.23 points per game is the worst of any United manager since the Premier League began. Under Carrick, the transformation has been clear, with Fernandes excelling.
Amorim also reportedly sent players home straight after fixtures, usually without any imparting words. This was done to let emotions dissipate before making knee-jerk decisions, instead relaying his thoughts to players the following day.
Carrick has reportedly introduced a new philosophy whereby players must not leave the dressing room until they feel they have been spoken to and heard.
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United’s Portuguese captain believes Carrick’s experience of playing for the club, between 2006 and 2018, has helped him understand what it takes to line up for one of the biggest teams on the planet.
“We hope we can help him even more so everyone can see, not just us as the players, that we are good players and that is why we are at Manchester United, but also the staff is very good,” Fernandes added.
“This is a massive club and everyone knows the expectations around it. I don’t think that changes but of course Michael has won everything here and he knows what it means to these fans and for the club to win. So much is needed to win in this football club and I think that is something special for this team.”