Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick have cleared the air after a public falling out, and Fernandes has broken his silence on social media for the first time since. The pair held talks this week ahead of Saturday’s 12.30pm kick-off against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, where many expect the Portuguese playmaker to start and play throughout.
The fallout
The tension followed a Champions League defeat to Como, which Manchester United lost 4-1. Fernandes was visibly frustrated as he shook his head after being substituted for Joshua Zirkzee in the second half. In the aftermath, Fernandes publicly criticised Carrick’s system. The Englishman responded by suggesting that his tactics only work when players run enough.
Fernandes was then dropped to the bench for Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, and he did not play a minute.
Talks and reconciliation
Carrick has since spoken about the discussion, telling the media: “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 returns to social media
Fernandes then made his first public move since the row. 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.
Carrick will need his best players available. United sit 16th in the Premier League table, with just one win from their opening eight matches, and the head coach is under mounting pressure. Sir Jim Ratcliffe is expected to watch the game in person at Stamford Bridge, and time is running out for Carrick to turn results around.
Carrick said he was focused on what he can control: “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.”