Jamie Carragher has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, labelling the midfielder a 'disgrace' for criticising manager Michael Carrick after their 4-1 defeat to Como

Jamie Carragher has launched a scathing attack on Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, branding the Portuguese midfielder a "disgrace". The ex-Liverpool defender backed under-fire manager Michael Carrick and praised the 45-year-old for his response to the skipper.

Carragher implied that Fernandes' fiery comments stemmed from being "embarrassed" after his 66th-minute substitution during their humbling 4-1 defeat in Northern Italy in the Champions League - with his replacement, Joshua Zirkzee, netting a consolation goal against Como.

Nico Paz was the star performer as his brace powered Cesc Fabregas' outfit to a memorable triumph and heightened the pressure on the former Premier League-winning midfielder turned Red Devils manager, whose said have won just twice in 11 matches in all competitions so far this season.

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

In a passionate tirade on CBS Sports, the footballer-turned-pundit slammed Fernandes for 'killing' his team-mates 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," reports the Mirror.

"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 added: "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 conceded that a managerial shake-up is desperately needed at Old Trafford following the defeat, which stretched their woeful run without a win to seven games. During his post-match media briefing, Carrick hit back at Fernandes, suggesting that 'if you don't run forward and back, you aren't going to win'.

The sharp retort won Carrick some unlikely admirers, with Carragher stepping forward as a surprising ally, admitting he felt for the beleaguered boss.

"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?" The former Liverpool stalwart said.

"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.

"What he did last season, no one proclaims Michael Carrick is one of the greatest managers in Europe but what he did was come in and helped his own football club, he was out of work, come in and done amazing, the only reason they're in the Champions League is because of Carrick.

"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."