REUTERS/David Klein
After a woeful start to the season, Manchester United are in full-fledged crisis mode. Their latest outing, a 3-0 loss to Chelsea, leaves the Red Devils 17th in the Premier League.
With just seven points from nine league games, Michael Carrick's men are only above the bottom three thanks to goal difference. As such, it feels as though the English manager could be sacked at any moment.
Truth be told, Man Utd had played well in the first half against Chelsea, and there was still hope of getting a result after Morgan Rogers opened the scoring in the 50th minute. However, the game was a good as over when Lisandro Martinez gave away a silly penalty just 13 minutes later.
The Argentine defender also got himself sent off in the same moment, picking up a second yellow for his senseless foul on Wesley Fofana. Cole Palmer made no mistake from 12 yards, putting the game to bed against Carrick's 10-man side.
Most of the focus has been on Martinez's silly challenge, but there is now talk that Bruno Fernandes should have also been sent off.
Michael Carrick of Manchester United walking into the stadium
Michael Carrick of Manchester United walking into the stadium
Keith Hackett: 'Bruno Fernandes Committed Serious Foul Play vs Chelsea'
REUTERS/Chris Radburn
Although many would not have really registered it at the time, former PGMOL chief and Premier League referee Keith Hackett has insisted that Fernandes deserved a red card against Chelsea. The incident in question saw the Man Utd captain fly into a challenge with Josh Acheampong in the 23rd minute.
Plenty of fans missed the incident, as the Man Utd star wasn't even booked for his foul. Hackett, though, believes the tackle was poor enough to result in a dismissal. He told Football Insider:
Per Premier League rules, serious foul play is defined as a tackle that occurs when a player challenges for the ball using excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent. Evidently, Hackett felt Fernandes' challenge fell into that bracket.
Fernandes' Future Unclear Along With Carrick and Martinez
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
Fernandes was clearly emotional on the day. He was even spotted in tears while going over to applaud the away Man Utd support at Stamford Bridge. The midfielder has now gone six Premier League games in a row without picking up a goal or an assist and was dropped from the team against Bournemouth after questioning Carrick's tactics in the 4-1 Champions League loss to Como.
Man Utd Premier League Stats
Back in the starting XI to face Chelsea, the 32-year-old was unable to help his team pick up a positive result. He's not the only player to speak out against the club of late, as Martinez also caused a big stir with his comments in the media when he called out Jason Wilcox.
Things are so unsteady at Man Utd right now that it remains unclear if Fernandes or Martinez will even be at the club next season. Both men's contracts expire in the summer, while Carrick may also be gone by that point, with many expecting the manager to be sacked before long.