OCTOBER 25, 2026, 15:40
Manchester United confirmed their lineup for the October 25 match against Bournemouth, with captain Bruno Fernandes the major omission from the starting eleven.
CARRICK’S DECISION
Shortly before kickoff, Michael Carrick described the selection as a “pure football” decision. The manager said that having options makes selection difficult and that the choice had to be the one he considered right for the team in this match.
Harry Maguire took the captain’s armband, while Fernandes was named among the substitutes. The Portugal international was therefore not left out of the squad and remained available to enter the match.
THE CONTEXT AFTER COMO
The decision followed United’s 4-1 Champions League loss at Como, after which Fernandes publicly questioned the team’s decision to sit back rather than press higher. Carrick had previously declined to rule out disciplinary action, but before the Bournemouth match he did not describe the benching as a punishment.
STATUS: OFFICIAL — Fernandes was on the bench and Maguire wore the armband. No disciplinary reason has been confirmed; Carrick’s public explanation was football-related.
SOURCES: Reuters — https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/fernandes-pays-price-criticism-carrick-drops-united-captain-2026-10-25/ | Manchester United — https://www.manutd.com/en/mutv/videos/detail/united-v-bournemouth-dissecting-the-team-news-25-october-2026
