The United captain joined forces with Lisandro Martinez in issuing a startling statement during post-match press duties. Fernandes aimed his criticism at Carrick, placing the blame for the defeat squarely on Ruben Amorim's successor.

In a passionate tirade, the footballer-turned-pundit speaking on CBS Sports charged Fernandes with 'killing' his team and being the root cause of United's failure to press as a unit.

He said: "No (not a good look). We said Lisandro Martinez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy and for Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really.

"When you think about last season he got Player of the Season, that was off the back of Michael Carrick becoming manager, he wouldn't have got that without Michael Carrick because he got put back in his rightful position and went on to have a fantastic season because he's a talented footballer.

"But in terms of attitude, the way he goes about things, is not right at all. He's reacted like that because he's been brought off and he's been embarrassed by the manager because he's been brought off.

"When he talks about pressing, man-to-man or zonal, for years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press.

"Because he does things for the crowd, I commentate on games and he runs all over and plays like a kid in the schoolyard, he plays for the supporters, it looks like he's working hard, he's not, he's killing the team doing it. He's not playing in a successful era for Manchester United."

Carragher continued: "Years ago, there was a captain called Bryan Robson, one of the greatest players to ever play for Man United because he played for the club, he didn't throw the manager or the players under the bus.

"He kept fighting for Manchester United and watching him throw his arms up every week in a game is an absolute disgrace, calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch. Awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should do."

Carragher, however, recognised that a managerial change is needed at Old Trafford following the defeat, which extended their winless streak to seven fixtures.

During his post-match press conference, Carrick responded to Fernandes by stating that 'if you don't run forward and back, you aren't going to win.' The retort garnered approval for Carrick, with Carragher becoming an unlikely advocate as he admitted to having sympathy for the manager.

"Isn't it funny, how many managers has Bruno Fernandes had? So every single manager doesn't have a philosophy? How many managers are we on now? Five?" remarked the former Liverpool man.

"It's an easy thing to say, Fabregas is the best new thing in managerial teams but Man United is rotten from top to bottom. Not just the manager, the whole club, who has got the answers?

"We comment on it all the time. Are we ever right really? No one else seems to. There's no doubt the manager needs to be changed now, this can't go on for a club of this stature but I'm glad Michael Carrick come out and said that about Michael Carrick. They don't run.

"He got them in there, the reason they got another £100m to £150m, no one thought they'd be there. I feel sorry for him a little bit. It's not working out and it needs to be changed.

"I'm delighted he brought him off and a pop back because that what they need some of them players."

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