Michael Carrick chose against triple Man Utd decision that could have ‘saved’ him against Bournemouth – opinion

If the writing on the wall was not already apparent enough, then the ink may have now dried on Michael Carrick’s Manchester United managerial reign at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick was a subdued figure in the Old Trafford dugout on Sunday afternoon after Bournemouth beat Manchester United 3-0 in the Premier League.

The 45-year-old United manager has now seen the Red Devils extend their winless streak to eight matches across all competitions and Carrick’s time might be up.

Man Utd were chasing the match against Bournemouth after their 2-0 deficit at half-time and Carrick opted against a major call that was immediately needed from him.

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Michael Carrick sealed his own fate by not backing a Man Utd triple substitution that immediately needed to come on

Before Bournemouth sealed their 3-0 win over Manchester United at the full-time whistle, Michael Carrick still had one final roll of the dice to save his Red Devils career. Bruno Fernandes, Lisandro Martinez and Matheus Cunha were all on the bench and there was an expectation that Carrick would turn to all three at the same time.

Bruno Fernandes was dropped to the bench after the Man Utd captain’s public criticism of Carrick’s tactics during the midweek. Lisandro Martinez, on the other hand, returned from an injury setback after missing United’s devastating 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League.

Matheus Cunha was alongside Fernandes and Martinez on the bench for the start of the match after a reported heated exchange with Carrick during the Champions League earlier this week. Following the Red Devils’ return to the pitch for the second half, Carrick only brought Cunha on after he took off Youri Tielemans. Martinez later came on in the 65th minute after he replaced Ayden Heaven, while Fernandes did not make the pitch before the full-time whistle.

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Fernandes was spotted warming up on the Old Trafford sidelines, but United legend Carrick instead chose to make an example out of the Portugal international. The triple sub was needed at half-time and Carrick was not denied the opportunity to make it. Instead, he proactively went against the call, even if it came at the risk of his own managerial role.

During the half-time break at Old Trafford, Jamie Carragher said on Sky Sports: “Carrick’s got to make changes. He’s got to bring Fernandes, Cunha and Martinez on.”

Despite Carrick’s statement of leaving Fernandes on the bench, Gary Neville felt the same way as fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher when it came to the 32-year-old Portuguese midfielder on Sunday afternoon.

“I think Fernandes should have been on at half-time,” he said on commentary for Sky Sports.

The triple sub could have paid off big time for Carrick if it had happened. Sure, it might not have worked out either, but it was Carrick’s last real shot at trying to pull the Red Devils back into the match. However, the potentially outgoing United manager was willing to die on the hill that he set out from the start of the match when it came to Fernandes.