Bruno Fernandes on the bench for the first time since April 2025

Manchester United's lineup featured a surprising change as manager Michael Carrick decided to place captain Bruno Fernandes on the bench against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League.

This marks the first time Fernández has started a Premier League match on the bench since April 20, 2025, having been accustomed to being in the starting lineup for the team, as Carrick puts an end to his consecutive appearances in the competition.

The decision came after Manchester United's captain criticized the team's tactical approach following a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, when he spoke about the need to press more aggressively against opponents.

Regarding his decision, Carrick clarified that the player's exclusion was for technical reasons, stating: "It is purely a football decision. When you have options, making the decision becomes difficult, but we have to choose what we see as best for the team in order to deliver the performance we want."