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Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday after the Manchester United captain criticised the manager’s tactics last week, with the midfielder now expected to start at Chelsea on Saturday.
Squad meetings and manager’s future
Carrick and Fernandes met prior to training on Tuesday morning at United’s Carrington training base. The 32-year-old provided the manager with assurances that he remains fully committed and intends to help turn the team’s season around. A broader squad meeting also took place with Carrick, during which the remaining players offered the same pledge.
Poor results have placed Carrick’s position in doubt. Later on Tuesday, it was confirmed that the 45-year-old will stay in charge for the upcoming fixture against Chelsea after Jason Wilcox, the director of football, determined he should receive additional time.
However, securing long-term survival in the role requires Carrick to deliver victories. Having left Fernandes—widely regarded as United’s top player—out of Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth as a consequence of his remarks, having him available for the Chelsea match provides a major boost.
Recent criticism and team news
Following last Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat at Como, Fernandes publicly questioned the team’s tactical approach, stating that the staff decided against a man-to-man press. Because Carrick determines the tactics, the comments were interpreted as a direct criticism of the manager.
During Wednesday morning’s session, Kobbie Mainoo returned to training after sitting out the previous four matches with an injury.
Carrick’s team has secured only two victories in 12 matches and suffered elimination from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Brighton. In the Premier League table, United sit in 16th place, holding a single-point margin over the relegation zone.
Upcoming fixtures and potential successors
United are scheduled to host Roma in the Champions League three days following the Chelsea match, followed by a league fixture against Aston Villa the subsequent Sunday. This leads into a two-week international break, which would provide the board with an extended window to evaluate the situation.
The decision to grant Carrick a reprieve may function as a measure to give Wilcox adequate time to line up a successor in the event that a dismissal becomes necessary. The director of football’s primary choice is Eddie Howe, the former Newcastle manager, while Christopher Vivell, the head of recruitment, supports former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
