Manchester United manager Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes have buried the hatchet, joining forces to turn the team’s fortunes around. After his tactical criticism led to a benching, Fernandes now looks poised for a return to action against Chelsea.
Sky Sports reported on Wednesday that Carrick and Fernandes held a frank discussion the previous day at United’s Carrington training complex.
The two agreed to put their recent spat behind them and focus on addressing the team’s poor run of form.
Sources indicate that Carrick was pleased with the meeting’s outcome, and Fernandes’ return to regular training suggests the air has been cleared.
Fernandes had publicly criticized team tactics following a 4-1 drubbing by Como (Italy) in a Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League fixture on October 22.
It’s sitting back instead of pressing high, Fernandes had said. Giving opponents too much possession boosts their confidence. When it does win the ball back, the players are already drained. It needs to press aggressively high up the pitch to unsettle the opponents.
When asked about tactical issues, Fernandes appeared to distance himself, stating that it’s for the manager and coaching staff to decide.
In response, Carrick dropped Fernandes from the starting lineup for the Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Monday. The Portuguese midfielder didn’t even make it off the bench as United suffered a humiliating 3-0 home defeat.
While Carrick insisted the decision was based on performance and tactics rather than disciplinary reasons, the apparent rift between manager and captain raised eyebrows both inside and outside the club.
Before his one-on-one with Fernandes, Carrick held a team-wide meeting. Reports suggest players and staff alike acknowledged the team’s subpar performances this season and agreed on the need for rapid improvement.
United face a crucial away test against Chelsea on October 31. Carrick has been given another chance to right the ship, while Fernandes looks set to return to contention following their heart-to-heart.
As it stands, Manchester United languish in 16th place in the 2026-27 Premier League table, with just one win, four draws, and three losses (7 points) from their opening eight games.
