Former Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole has criticised Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes for publicly questioning Michael Carrick’s tactical approach following the Red Devils’ 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como on Wednesday.

United endured a difficult evening in Italy as Cesc Fabregas’ side dominated proceedings, leaving Carrick facing further scrutiny over his team’s disappointing performances.

However, Fernandes’ post-match assessment of United’s tactical setup attracted criticism from Cole, who believes the Portuguese midfielder crossed the line by questioning his manager on television.

According to GOAL, Cole was particularly unhappy with Fernandes’ suggestion that United’s decision not to press Como aggressively contributed to their defeat.

The former England international described the midfielder’s comments as unacceptable, insisting that disagreements over tactics should be addressed privately.

Cole’s Comments On Fernandes’ Highlights Of Carrick’s Tactics

“[He’s] absolutely questioning the tactics. It doesn’t matter whether he is right to. That’s sacrilege.

“I’ve played for managers where I don’t agree with the tactics. You might say that to your mate or your wife, but you don’t come out as captain of the club and question the manager. He doesn’t even do it properly. If you’re going to come out, be bold, and say it with your chest.

“He sort of says, ‘we could have been this, but then it’s up to the manager’. He probably thinks he’s clever, [like saying] ‘well, I didn’t really say it, gaffer’.

“You said what you said, you thought they got the tactics wrong. You can think that, that’s fine. You can go into the manager’s office tomorrow, and say, ‘I think you got it wrong, gaffer’. Have a man-to-man conversation.”

Comparing the current ill-discipline at Old Trafford with the club’s golden era, Cole continued: “To come out in front of the nation, when you’re captain of the football club, and question the manager is simply unacceptable.

“Bruno has really got that wrong. If you’re captain of Manchester United, you cannot come out and question the tactics. It would not have happened under Sir Alex Ferguson.”

Fernandes had earlier expressed frustration with United’s inability to disrupt Como’s passing game.

The Portugal international suggested that Carrick’s decision against deploying a man-to-man pressing system allowed the Italian side to grow in confidence.

What Fernandes Said

Speaking to after the final whistle, Fernandes told TNT Sports: “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man.

“But sometimes when you give too much of the ball to these teams, they get confidence. They have so many bodies behind the ball that make you run a lot, make people frustrated.”

The Italian side enjoyed 55 per cent possession as they secured an emphatic victory over their Premier League opponents.

The Red Devils will be hoping to put their European disappointment behind them when they return to Premier League action against Bournemouth on Sunday.