Bruno Fernandes dropped and left on bench by Carrick in latest Man United embarrassment

Under-pressure Manchester United manager Michael Carrick dropped Bruno Fernandes on Sunday in a statement selection with the team in a crisis — and didn't even bring the captain on as a substitute in a heavy defeat.

Fernandes — the player of the year in English soccer last season — was named among the replacements for the embarrassing 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, four days after appearing to criticize his manager following a 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League.

Carrick responded at that time by saying “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.”

Then he dropped Fernandes from the team, with the Portugal star sent out to warm up at one point but never making it onto the field despite Carrick making four second-half substitutions.

Carrick said in a pre-match interview that it was a “pure football” decision to leave out Fernandes, who was named on the bench for a Premier League game for just the sixth time since joining United in January 2020, statistics company Opta said.

United dropped to 16th place, has now failed to win any of its last eight games in all competitions and has won just one of its eight matches in the Premier League this season, leaving Carrick fighting for his job.

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Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick waves to supporters after his team lost the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth in Manchester, England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick reacts to supporters after his team lost the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth in Manchester, England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes warms up during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth in Manchester, England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes warmns up ahead of the start of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Bournemouth in Manchester, England, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick gestures as he leaves the pitch after the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Como and Manchester United in Como, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (right) attends a training session at Carrington Training Centre, Manchester, England, Monday Oct. 12, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, left, and Leeds United's Ao Tanaka battle for the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Leeds United and Manchester United in Leeds, England, Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. (Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)

Manchester United Bruno Fernandes, second right, attends a training session in Manchester, England, Tuesday Oct. 20, 2026. (Martin Rickett/PA via AP)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Opposition leader and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado reappeared in Venezuela Sunday for the first time since December, about a month before the U.S. military deposed the country’s then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Machado announced her arrival on social media, writing “I am here. With you.”

Meanwhile, Venezuela’s opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez wrote on X confirming that Machado had arrived and that he would be next to her “very soon.”

“Today is a very important day for Venezuelans. Our sovereign voice returns with her to lead and guide this process!” he wrote. “You know it, this is until the end.”

Machado’s homecoming after more than 10 months in exile took place as doubts over Venezuela’s democratic future — and the U.S.’s role in it — deepen.

Since Maduro’s ouster, Venezuela has been run by acting President Delcy Rodríguez, a longtime Maduro ally who received the Trump administration’s blessing to succeed him.

Rodríguez has exceeded the time she was authorized to serve as acting president following Maduro’s capture and no election is scheduled.

Machado went into hiding in Venezuela for 11 months after being briefly detained following a protest in January 2025. After leaving the country in a clandestine escape, she reappeared that December in Norway, where she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful challenge to Maduro’s authoritarian government.

Machado and her allies have been demanding a date for a presidential election in Venezuela, but U.S. officials have emphasized economic stabilization first.

Supporters of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gather to demand that a date be set for presidential elections in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)