Bruno Fernandes helped inspire Manchester United to a dramatic 3-2 Champions League win against Roma and said manager Michael Carrick was right to drop him for criticising his tactics last month.
United captain Fernandes scored a penalty and created an equaliser for Matheus Cunha as the Premier League side fought back from 2-0 down to end a nine-game winless run against Roma.
It was the 32-year-old's best performance of a disappointing season and showcased the form that saw the Portugal midfielder crowned as England's Footballer of the Year last season.
But after being dropped by Carrick against Bournemouth following critical comments about the manager's tactics during a 4-1 defeat against Como, Fernandes said the United boss was correct to discipline him by removing him from the team.
"It's been tough, there's been a lot of speculation in the media," Fernandes told Amazon Prime. "A lot of lies around many things that have happened between me and the manager, that we have cleared the air, then after that the manager took the decision to put me on the bench because I'm not performing.
"Everyone thought that was a punishment for the words that I had. If it was, it was right. The manager is the one who makes the decisions.
"It doesn't change the belief I have of the manager and the staff and every player in this club.
"And it doesn't change my aim to win every f---ing game that I have ahead of me."
Carrick's position as manager has been under threat as United have endured their worst start to a season since 1986, winning just once in the Premier League so far.
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But Fernandes rejected the suggestion that beating Roma would help save Carrick's job.
"We don't need to save anyone's job," he said. "The club needed that win, the players needed that win.
"We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together."
