Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has confirmed that Bruno Fernandes remains fully committed to the club and will continue to serve as team captain. The clarification follows a meeting between the pair at United’s Carrington training ground to resolve recent tensions.
Clear-the-Air Talks Held at Carrington
Carrick previously left Fernandes on the bench during Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth. The decision came after the Portuguese midfielder publicly questioned the team’s tactics following a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como. However, the manager stated that there is no decision to be made regarding the captaincy.
According to Carrick, Fernandes is an important player who has led the group well for many years and will continue to do so. He emphasized that the benching against Bournemouth was simply a decision made specifically for that match and that there are no underlying issues.
“He’s fully committed to this football club; he’s fully committed to making things better. There are absolutely no issues with that,” Carrick said.
Carrick Prepares for Chelsea Trip Amid Poor Run
The Bournemouth loss extended Manchester United’s winless streak to eight matches, marking their worst run of results since the 2015-16 season. The club has not gone nine games without a win since the 1988-89 campaign.
Following nearly 40 hours of discussions involving the Glazer family, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox, the club confirmed Carrick will remain in charge for Saturday’s upcoming match against Chelsea.
Carrick is also expected to lead the team for next Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Roma and a Premier League match against Aston Villa on November 8, ahead of a two-week international break. Despite the mounting pressure, the 45-year-old manager stated he does not require any guarantees about his position.
“I don’t need any assurances from anyone,” Carrick said. “I totally get the position. I understand the job. I understand the responsibilities. I understand what comes with that. So, I really don’t need any assurances from anyone in that regard.”
