Michael Carrick 'wanting to be sacked' as Jamie Carragher makes explosive Manchester United claim

Pressure on Manchester United boss Michael Carrick has reached its boiling point, as Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has accused him of "wanting to be sacked" after a dismal 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth was topped off by the omission of Bruno Fernandes.

Unrest at Manchester United is at an all-time high this week as club captain Fernandes took aim at his manager and the tactics in a post-match interview following their heavy midweek loss against Como.

It was the second time in a matter of days that a United player has openly criticised the club officials, as Lisandro Martinez's double-header of damning interviews ignited a war in the camp.

However, despite featuring in the Champions League this week, neither Martinez nor Fernandes were named in the starting XI against Bournemouth, as Carrick made a bold statement with his selection.

The Manchester United boss claimed that the decision was based on "pure football", adding, "there are always difficult decisions."

But as Old Trafford emptied early as Bournemouth thrashed the Red Devils, Jamie Carragher ripped into the former England midfielder for "wanting to get sacked" and "deliberately" trying to embarrass Fernandes.

Jamie Carragher accuses Michael Carrick of wanting to be sacked in brutal Bournemouth analysis

Talking on Sky Sports, Carragher revealed that he thought Carrick was waving the white flag with his team selection, making one final stand by singling out Fernandes and Martinez.

"When you're talking about whether Michael Carrick is going to be changed, he is going to be changed. He wants to be changed. He does," Carragher said.

"He doesn't want to be sitting in the dugout again for Manchester United with those players. He doesn't.

"What we're watching now is a situation where it becomes untenable for everybody. Nobody is actually enjoying watching Michael Carrick at the moment.

"Can you imagine going into the training ground tomorrow and facing Bruno Fernandes after not bringing him on in that situation?

"He doesn't want to be involved in that. He wants to be put out of his misery tonight."

Carragher recently leapt to the defence of Carrick, labeling Bruno Fernandes as a 'disgrace.'

But the pundit quickly changed his tune as Fernandes was left to sit on the bench, as he claimed that the manager was using him as a last-ditch statement.

"I think it was a deliberate decision to leave him on the bench and almost try to embarrass him," Carragher added.

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Ashley Young wasn't as generous with his Bruno analysis, though, as he called out the Portuguese midfielder for his pre-match antics.

Carrick says post-match reaction 'wasn't a farewell'

In response to the critics, and after completing a full lap of the pitch to clap the few supporters left in Old Trafford, Carrick claimed that it wasn't a moment of farewell, but rather an emotional apology for the performance.

"It wasn't a farewell from me," Carrick said on Sky.

"I'm mixed emotions; I'm feeling it for my players, they're going through a tough spell. Some of it we can help, some of it is that the situation unravels and the boys are feeling it at the moment. Mixed emotions for the supporters to respond in that way.

"To have that connection with the supporters, it's mixed emotions. It'll take a bit of time to digest, but I certainly appreciate their support.

"The situation is where we are, and we haven't had results or performances that have been good enough. It's a tough situation - there's no hiding from it.

What it looks like and what's next, I really don't know. I will always do my best for the football club, and I won't change that now. I love what I do, and I feel the responsibility. We'll have to wait and see."

Should Carrick leave the Manchester United dugout, fans have already vocalised their support for a successor.