Trailing 2-0 at the break, the team turned the match around with a remarkable second-half fightback sparked by a penalty from Bruno Fernandes in the 58th minute.
Fernandes Denies Job Preservation Claims
Addressing media after the fixture, team captain Fernandes pushed back against suggestions that the result was primarily about protecting the coaching staff’s employment status, according to Amazon Prime interviews.
We don’t need to save anyone’s job.
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United captain
The 32-year-old midfielder added that the collective squad shared the urgent need for a positive result to alter their trajectory.
The club needed that win, the players needed that win. We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together.
Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United captain
Fernandes publicly criticised manager Michael Carrick’s tactics in the wake of their loss at Como, leading to intense media speculation and reports of tension between the player and the coach. The manager subsequently took the decision to put him on the bench.
The Portuguese international noted that everyone assumed being benched was a punishment for his outspoken words, and if it was, the manager was entirely justified in making that choice. He emphasized that the manager is the one who makes the decisions for the squad. Fernandes explained that these events do not alter his deep belief in the manager, the coaching staff, or every single player at the club, nor do they change his ambition to win every fixture ahead of him.
Restored to the team following earlier setbacks—including being left on the bench by Carrick—the club captain helped orchestrate a turnaround against Roma. The hard-fought victory finally ended a run of nine games without a victory.