Image source, Getty Images

If you are just joining us, we have been picking our way through the aftermath of one of Manchester United's worst ever defeats in Europe.

Their 4-1 mauling at Champions League debutants Como would have been a huge story in itself, but that was before captain Bruno Fernandes used his post-match interview to criticise the tactics employed by head coach Michael Carrick.

The United skipper said it was the decision of the "manager and staff" not to press high up the pitch and added: "Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."

Carrick had substituted Fernandes in the second half and provided a curt response in his post-match news conference when told about his captain's comments, saying: "Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you aren't going to win."

Fernandes' comments prompted an angry response from pundits and fans alike.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher told CBS Sports that the Portugal international was an "absolute disgrace".

Those words have been echoed by readers on this page this morning, with one describing the United skipper as the "anti-captain", while another said that last season's 'player of the year' should not be part of the club's long-term plans.

However, others have supported Fernandes' right to speak out, saying he is not a disgrace, just frustrated.

What do you think? Could it ever be right for a captain to criticise their manager in public?

John Murray
Football correspondent on BBC Radio 5 Live

It feels like Manchester United are miles behind a club like Bayern Munich, whereas once they were on a par.

You know, it's that sort of club, the way it runs. It feels like everything at Bayern Munich is pulling in the right direction.

With Manchester United, it feels that that is far from the case and has been for such a long time now.

After last night's game, Manchester United fan Jay Motty said he feels like it's "the end" for Michael Carrick as head coach.

"That was as bad as I've seen United in a long, long time," he added. "Como looked up for it, looked well organised, looked well drilled, looked passionate - we didn't look any of those things.

"Is a new manager going to change this? Probably not. But I feel like a new manager's going to happen sooner rather than later, and I'll be surprised if Michael Carrick sees the end of the week as Manchester United manager.

"He's been found wanting this season, and he's been let down massively by the players and by the board."

John Murray
BBC football correspondent on Football Daily

I'm surprised at the size of the result and the comments after it as well, they're really damaging aren't they?

I thought they did well to keep a lid on it after Martinez said what he did. But it's a different level now. It's a different level when it comes from the captain.

BBC Radio 5 Live football correspondent John Murray was at Bayern Munich on Wednesday night to watch their 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

He spoke with 5 Live Breakfast this morning about the current contrast between Bayern and Manchester United, who beat the German giants in the 1999 Champions League final to secure the Treble under Sir Alex Ferguson...

Nedum Onuoha
Former Man City defender on MOTD: UEFA Champions League

On captain Bruno Fernandes' criticism of Manchester United's tactics and head coach Michael Carrick's curt response:

It's not good at all. I think for them to be clashing with their messaging after such a tough defeat is a huge issue because you want everybody to come together and try to figure out a way to get through difficult times on the same page.

But for those two that definitely doesn't seem to be the case.

I think last week's outburst by Lisandro Martinez was more about the football club itself, whereas this one here is about someone [Fernandes] bringing into question the manager's tactics and also [from Carrick, criticising] the way the players are playing for the manager.

Bruno Fernandes thinks the tactics where essentially wrong in this game, whereas Michael Carrick thinks the players were not running enough in this game for the tactics to work out.

When you find those sorts of splits it can be very hard in a dressing room to maintain energy behind a manager.

Image source, Getty Images

Reacting to Bruno Fernandes' comments, CBS Sports, external pundit Jamie Carragher was in shock at what he heard - branding "awful attitude" Fernandes a "disgrace" and declaring his actions as 'not what a Manchester United captain should be'.

"We said Lisandro Martínez was bang out of order last week for calling out the hierarchy above him. For Bruno Fernandes to do that is a disgrace really," Carragher said.

"When you think about last season, he got player of the year. That was on the back of Michael Carrick becoming the manager. He wouldn't have got that award without Michael Carrick, because Michael Carrick put him back in his rightful position and he then went on to have a fantastic season because he's a talented footballer.

"But when you think of him as a footballer, he's a talent, but in terms of attitude and the way he goes about things, it's not right at all.

"And he's reacted like that because he's been brought off and he's been embarrassed tonight by the manager as he brought him off. And when he talks about pressing, whether it's man to man or zonal, for years, Bruno Fernandes has meant Manchester United can't press because he does things for the crowd.

"I commentate on games watching Man United and he runs all over the place like a kid in the schoolyard for the supporters. They all think he's working hard - he's not. He's killing the rest of the team doing it.

"Years ago, there was a captain called Bryan Robson, one of the greatest players to ever play for Man United because he played for the club, he didn't throw the manager or the players under the bus.

"He kept fighting for Manchester United and watching him throw his arms up every week in a game is an absolute disgrace, calling the manager out considering how he's performed this season on the pitch.

"Awful attitude and not what a Manchester United captain should be."

Julien Laurens
French football journalist on TNT Sports

Bruno Fernandes is the captain but he's been far from irreproachable this season in terms of his own level.

Obviously, this is a dig at the staff, a dig at Michael Carrick.

Lisandro Martinez going out publicly like he did and then being sanctioned with a fine that is nothing to him, he's earning so much money.

Now Bruno, six or seven days later, it's not a good look for a club that seems to be in so much disarray that there's not even any discipline because the players feel the freedom to say whatever they want.

Kasper Schmeichel
Former Celtic goalkeeper on the Football Daily podcast

It's a really precarious situation Man United find themselves in now.

I've been in situations myself, as a player you feel like the management and the club aren't aligned from top to bottom and you feel alone out there. I think that's what Bruno Fernandez is doing, he's reacting to feeling alone out there.

He was trying to press but there wasn't anyone following him up and his body language wasn't great. But given what's happened he shouldn't be saying these things, it's not going to help.

You learn that these things are better kept in-house.

You may have spotted that a poll has appeared at the top of this page asking whether you think Bruno Fernandes was right to question Michael Carrick's tactics - if not, give your page a quick refresh.

Anyway, get your votes in and then hit 'get involved' to send us your reasoning.