Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick have cleared the air after talks this week, ahead of Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where many expect Fernandes to start and play throughout. The Portuguese playmaker had been dropped to the bench for Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford and did not play a minute.
The fallout began after Manchester United’s 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Fernandes, who was substituted for Joshua Zirkzee in the second half, visibly shook his head as he left the pitch. He then publicly criticised Carrick’s system. The Englishman responded by suggesting that his tactics only work when players run enough.
Talks and a public message
Carrick and Fernandes have since met to resolve the dispute. Carrick described the discussion in measured terms.
“Listen, we’re clear with the situation of the team, and as a football club at the moment. As I’ve just said, he’s an important player for this group,” Carrick told the media.
“He has been and he will be. Between us, we’ve got to make a difference and we’ve got to push things in a good direction.”
Carrick also defended his captain’s commitment. “He’s fully committed to this football club, he’s fully committed to making things better. It doesn’t change for me. He’s the one that’s kind of led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he’ll continue to do that.”
Fernandes has also broken his silence on social media. On Friday afternoon, the 32-year-old posted a pre-match poster to his Instagram stories. It featured him running on the pitch with his signature on the right. It was his first public message since the falling out with Carrick.
Pressure mounts on Carrick
Carrick needs his best players available against Chelsea. United sit 16th in the Premier League table, with just one win from their opening eight matches. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to attend the game in person, and Carrick has limited time to turn the season around.
Carrick said he is focused on what he can control rather than outside noise. “The outside is not anything for me to focus on. I know what we can affect, I know what we need to improve. I know as a group, leading a group, what help they need a little bit as well, and a bit of guidance at certain times, and dealing with certain things.”
He pointed to his one-on-one relationships with players as central to his role. “That’s part of my direct role is them, who I care about and can affect the most directly. Of course we spoke.”
Carrick explained that regular meetings often vary with results. “We have meetings as we do every single week, but some of the meetings go in different ways depending on results and the situation and the feeling. I have to say, the boys are hungry. We’re hurting because we haven’t won enough football games, but there’s an intensity, there’s a bit of an edge, there’s a disappointment, there’s a hunger to do better, for sure.”