Carrick: Fernandes will remain Manchester United captain after Carrington talks

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick said on Tuesday that Bruno Fernandes will remain the club's captain after clear-the-air talks held at United's Carrington training ground following Sunday's 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. Carrick told reporters Fernandes is "fully committed" to the club.

Carrick had dropped Fernandes to the bench for the Bournemouth game after the midfielder questioned the tactics used in a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como. The manager said there is "no decision to be made" over whether Fernandes remains captain and noted Fernandes joined Manchester United in January 2020.

On the squad and Fernandes's role Carrick said: "We are clear with the situation of the team, and as a football club," adding that "He's fully committed to this football club; he's fully committed to making things better. There are absolutely no issues with that." He also said: "It doesn't change for me. It was a decision for what we felt for the [Bournemouth] game. That's it."

Manchester United have gone eight games without a win as they head to Chelsea, a run the club described as their worst since 2015-16. The club noted that not since the 1988-89 campaign have they had a sequence of nine matches without a win.

Nearly 40 hours elapsed between the Bournemouth defeat and the club's clarification on Carrick's future, with discussions involving the Glazer family, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox before his immediate future was confirmed. The 45-year-old Carrick will be in charge for Saturday's trip to Chelsea.

On his own position Carrick said: "I don't need any assurances from anyone," and when asked if he was surprised to still be in a job he replied: "No. I'm here to do my job. I'm here to do the best for the team, and I'm desperate to make us better and improve things. So, I'm not surprised, no."

It seems likely Carrick will remain in post for next Tuesday's Champions League match against Roma and for the Premier League encounter with Aston Villa at Old Trafford on 8 November, after which there is a two-week international break.