Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks at the Carrington training ground on Wednesday, separate from a wider squad meeting. The discussions come after Fernandes questioned Carrick's tactics following last week's 4-1 Champions League loss to Como, which resulted in his benching for the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. Following the talks, Fernandes is now considered available for the crunch away match against Chelsea on Saturday, described as being back to his best form after a difficult period.
Sunday's loss left United down in 16th place in the Premier League with only one league win this term over Ipswich. While Carrick faces scrutiny, the club resolved to give the 45-year-old more time after he took training on Tuesday. Fernandes was the second player to make outspoken comments recently, following Lisandro Martinez's critique of the club's hierarchy after the Atletico Madrid loss.
Carrick's future remains uncertain despite a two-year deal signed in the summer, with United winning only two of 12 matches in all competitions. Director of Football Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada are also under scrutiny for summer transfer failings, though fans continued to sing Carrick's name at Old Trafford.
Source: ESPN Soccer · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing