Bruno Fernandes Tells Michael Carrick He Is Committed and Nears Chelsea Return

• Bruno Fernandes met Michael Carrick at Carrington on Tuesday and assured his head coach he is fully committed to turning United’s season around, per Sky Sports.
• Fernandes, 32, was dropped for the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday after he criticised Carrick’s tactics following the 4-1 loss at Como.
• The Manchester United captain is now expected to start at Chelsea on Saturday, with United 16th in the Premier League.

A Dropped Captain Is Back In Contention And Carrick Needs The Results

Bruno Fernandes sat down with Michael Carrick at Carrington on Tuesday and is understood to have told his head coach he is fully committed to turning Manchester United’s season around. The captain, 32, met Carrick before training, two days after being left out of the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. The squad then held a meeting of its own, where the rest of the players made the same vow. Fernandes is now expected to start at Chelsea on Saturday. For a coach whose job is in the balance, getting back the player considered United’s best is a considerable boost.

What Happened At Carrington

The one-to-one talk was open and frank. Carrick left satisfied that the animosity between them is over. It is not known whether Fernandes apologised for his public criticism.

The meeting came on top of the all-squad session, where players and staff showed a renewed determination that performances have to improve immediately. Both sides also admitted that the whole squad has underperformed so far this season.

Reporter Danyal Khan, speaking from Carrington, says Fernandes has been “back to his best” in the last 48 hours. Khan called it “quite out of character” for the captain to air frustrations after Como. Fernandes came in on Monday for treatment to maintain his fitness, and Khan says the message from inside the club is that “it is business as usual for everyone involved”. In his words, Fernandes “is absolutely back in contention to play for Michael Carrick’s side on Saturday”.

How The Row Started

It began after the 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como last Wednesday. Fernandes questioned the team’s strategy. “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man,” he said. Asked if the tactics were to blame, he replied: “That’s on the manager and on the staff to see it, it’s not on me.”

Carrick decides tactics, so the comments were seen as a direct attack on the manager. Before the Bournemouth game he refused to rule out disciplinary measures. “If I’ve spoken to him or haven’t… this isn’t the time to go into details,” Carrick said. Fernandes was then dropped and finished as an unused substitute. Carrick called it “pure football” and added: “Picking the team is always a difficult decision.”

Khan pointed to the mood at Old Trafford on Sunday as a likely factor in the change of tone. There were no shouts of “Bruno” as the captain warmed up, and the players were booed after Carrick went down the tunnel.

Pundit Gary Neville was blunt about the Como remarks. “I’m sorry, read the room, Bruno,” he said, adding that Fernandes had “basically thrown his manager under the bus the week after [Lisandro] Martinez did the same.” Neville also praised him: “Bruno has delivered for Manchester United in more ways than any other player in the last 13 years.” His verdict was still firm. “But he let himself down this week.”

A Season On The Edge

Fernandes was the second United player to criticise the club in public this month. Martinez said after the Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid: “We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete.” He played 45 minutes of the 1-1 draw at Leeds afterwards but was also benched for Bournemouth.

Carrick, 45, stays for Chelsea after director of football Jason Wilcox decided he should be given more time. His side have won twice in 12 games, went out of the Carabao Cup to Brighton and sit a point above the relegation zone. Kobbie Mainoo was back in training on Wednesday after missing four games with injury.

Chelsea Comes First

Saturday at Stamford Bridge is the first test of the truce. United host Roma in the Champions League three days later, then Aston Villa the following Sunday, before a two-week international window gives the board longer to assess the situation. To keep the job long term, Carrick has to start winning games, and he will hope the captain he dropped on Sunday is the one who helps him do it.

WRITTEN BY

George Howson

George Howson is a Futbol Chronicle contributor and accredited journalist with over 20 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, George has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing deep knowledge and first-hand insight to every match report and analysis he writes.

More articles by George Howson →