A defiant Michael Carrick refused to rule out stripping Bruno Fernandes of the captaincy as the Manchester United manager told his players to cut out their public sniping and start doing their talking on the pitch.

Carrick struck a bullish tone as he came out fighting and moved to reassert his authority after a tumultuous past fortnight that has left him battling to save his job ahead of Sunday’s must-win game against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.

The United manager began his press conference on Friday afternoon with a stirring five-and-a-half-minute monologue in which he issued an emotional call to arms to his players to demonstrate the values of hard work, sacrifice, humility and resilience that define the club.

Referencing Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, Carrick warned there could be no “entitlement” culture in echoes of complaints from his predecessor Ruben Amorim.

United are actively considering their options in the event Carrick cannot quickly…