Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has held clear-the-air discussions with his squad and backroom staff over Bruno Fernandes' captaincy future ahead of the Premier League clash with Chelsea. The talks follow two consecutive weeks of player criticism, with Carrick determined to galvanise the team around a collective ambition to secure victories.
Pressure mounts at Old Trafford
Carrick is preparing to lead United into their weekend encounter with Chelsea amid intense speculation over his future. Unless the club halts its eight-match run without a win, pressure is expected to intensify, despite supporters chanting Carrick's name before directing more hostile reactions towards players after the Bournemouth defeat.
Discussions have involved players and staff but not club directors, according to The Athletic. A resolution is also expected regarding Fernandes' role after he was dropped to the bench against Bournemouth following his public questioning of the team's approach.
Fernandes criticism and response
The matter between manager and captain is set to be tackled 'head-on', with a line drawn after the weekend. Fernandes is expected to be in contention to start at Stamford Bridge.
Following the Champions League defeat to Como, Fernandes criticised Carrick's tactics in a TNT Sports interview. "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them, but sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence," he said.
When asked whether he was implying Carrick had got things wrong, Fernandes responded: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable. As you saw with them (Como), the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half. We need to do that as a team but we were unable to. A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide."
Scholes criticises Fernandes conduct
Former United star Paul Scholes has taken a damning view of Fernandes' conduct. Speaking on the Good, the Bad and the Football, he said: "What Bruno Fernandes said last week, I think that's unforgivable. How can Bruno Fernandes be trusted to be captain of any team he ever goes to now? I think he probably needs to get away from European football and just go to Saudi, just get out the way. I don't think any manager, any member of staff can trust him after that."
United chiefs engaged in lengthy talks over Carrick's future in the wake of the Bournemouth defeat. Monday is reported to have seen a conference call amongst senior figures within the club's hierarchy. Co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Avram and Joel Glazer, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox all weighed in on the matter. It was not until Tuesday lunchtime that the decision to stick with Carrick was finally communicated.
