Bruno Fernandes criticising Michael Carrick after Manchester United lost 4-1 to Como in the Champions League has led to calls for the club captain to be punished

Manchester United will not punish Bruno Fernandes by stripping him of the club captaincy for his criticism of Michael Carrick after the 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League.

Fernandes questioned the United head coach and his coaching staff over their tactical approach during his post-match interview. He claimed they decided not to press their opponents man-to-man during the game.

The club's captain urged them to be braver under pressure by taking the risk of pressing high. Fernandes believes United allowed Como to gain confidence by giving the hosts space in behind and to hurt them out wide.

Fernandes is unlikely to be punished at all. There is, though, apparently internal disappointment with what the Portugal international said.

However, that is said to come with a wider feeling that the anger and frustration he voiced were understandable given how they lost. United were 1-0 down within two minutes.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the 4-1 defeat, Fernandes said: "It's not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way.

"Conceding early makes us go into game with a mood of defeat, it's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen. If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation.

Fernandes then decided to turn his focus on the touchline.

"It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence."

Asked whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes did not mince his words, by responding: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.

"As you saw with them [Como], the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half. We need to do that as a team but we were unable to.

"A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide."