Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick have held talks to clear the air ahead of Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, and Fernandes has broken his silence on social media for the first time since their falling out.
The pair’s dispute followed a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, after which Fernandes publicly criticised Carrick’s system. The Manchester United head coach fired back at the club captain, suggesting that his tactics only work when players run enough. Carrick then dropped Fernandes to the bench for Sunday’s 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, and the Portuguese playmaker did not play a minute.
Talks and public comments
Carrick and Fernandes met this week, and many expect Fernandes to start against Chelsea and play throughout the match.
Speaking after their discussion, Carrick said: “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.
“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.
“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 responds on Instagram
Fernandes signalled his return to the fold on Friday afternoon. The 32-year-old posted a pre-match poster to his Instagram stories, featuring himself running on the pitch with his signature on the right.
The gesture comes as Carrick needs his best players available. United sit 16th in the Premier League table and have won just one of their opening eight matches. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to watch the game in person at Stamford Bridge, and Carrick has limited time to turn the club’s fortunes around.
Carrick on the pressure
Carrick played down the external noise, saying: “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.
“That’s part of my direct role is them, who I care about and can affect the most directly. Of course we spoke.
“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.”