The captain’s armband at Manchester United has never been a simple piece of material.

It carries the weight of Old Trafford’s history, handed down by men who understood exactly what it demanded.

Those who wore it were expected to shield the dressing room, absorb the pressure and keep their grievances behind closed doors.

That unwritten code has shaped the club’s standards for generations, in good times and bad.

Which is why Wednesday night in Italy has left so many who care about how things are done at United feeling uneasy.

Bruno Fernandes publicly criticised Michael Carrick’s tactics after United’s 4-1 Champions League hammering at Como.

Bruno Fernandes questions Michael Carrick tactics

The captain, who was poor himself in Italy, took aim at the setup after the game, saying, “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence.”

Asked directly whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Bruno Fernandes added, “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me.

“Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”

Carrick offered a rebuke when told of the comment, saying, “There’s a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you aren’t going to win.”

It was not the first time Fernandes has questioned the approach, having spoken after the 2-0 opening-day defeat at Hull of the “same mistakes” as last season in every away game.

United are now without a win in 7 games in all competitions, and sit 13th in the Premier League with just 7 points.

Carrick apologised to the travelling fans, scenes reminiscent of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s 4-1 defeat at Watford in 2021, which preceded his sacking 24 hours later.

The captain’s comments land little more than a week after Lisandro Martinez laid into the club’s board over a lack of investment.

talkSPORT reported that United have already sounded out Julian Nagelsmann as a potential replacement.

With Bournemouth visiting Old Trafford on Sunday, a dressing room airing its differences in public is the last thing Carrick needs.