Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday after the Manchester United captain criticised the head coach’s tactics last week, with the player now expected to start at Chelsea on Saturday. Carrick and Fernandes met before training on Tuesday morning at United’s Carrington training base. The 32-year-old captain, it is understood, offered assurances that he is fully committed and intent on trying to turn the team’s season around.
There was also a squad meeting with Carrick at which the rest of the players made the same vow. Dismal results have left Carrick’s job in the balance. Later on Tuesday it emerged that the 45-year-old will remain in charge for the trip to Chelsea after Jason Wilcox, the director of football, decided he should be given more time.
But to remain as the head coach for the long term, Carrick has to start winning games. So having dropped Fernandes, who is considered United’s best player, for the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday because of the criticism, the captain now being available for Chelsea is a considerable boost. After the 4-1 defeat at Como last Wednesday, Fernandes questioned the team’s strategy.
As Carrick decides tactics, this was seen as a direct attack on the head coach. On Wednesday morning Kobbie Mainoo was back in training after missing the past four games because of injury. Carrick’s side have won twice in 12 games and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton.
United are 16th in the Premier League, a point above the relegation zone. United host Roma in the Champions League three days after playing Chelsea, then Aston Villa in the league the following Sunday before a two-week international window, which would offer a longer period for the board to assess the situation. Carrick’s reprieve may be a move to allow time for Wilcox to secure a replacement should the decision be taken to sack the head coach.
The director of football’s prime candidate is the former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, while Christopher Vivell, the head of recruitment, favours the former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann. United believe Benjamin Sesko will be out until January due to a shin injury. The 23-year-old has been out since the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton on 16 September, with the problem relating to a kick he received to the shin in the closing months of last season.
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