Carrick confirms Fernandes will remain Manchester United captain

Michael Carrick has confirmed that Bruno Fernandes will remain Manchester United captain after the pair held talks. The Portuguese midfielder had been left out of the starting line-up after criticising the team’s approach, but the coach says he remains central to his plans.

Fernandes was left on the bench on Sunday as Manchester United lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth. He had publicly questioned the team’s approach after their 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League. Carrick and Fernandes spoke this week at Carrington, and Carrick reaffirmed the midfielder’s place in the group.

“There’s no decision to be made on that,” Carrick said, referring to the captaincy. He also stressed Fernandes’s importance: “He’s an important player for this group. He has been and he will be.” The coach thus separated their disagreement over performances and tactical choices from Fernandes’s longer-term responsibilities in the team.

The decision to leave Fernandes on the bench raised questions about his relationship with Carrick, who is under increasing pressure after a disappointing run of results. The two discussed the situation this week, and Carrick maintained that their disagreement would not change Fernandes’s responsibilities within the squad. Whether he returns to the starting line-up remains a separate selection decision.

Manchester United sit 16th in the Premier League with 7 points after 8 matches. Their record stands at one win, four draws and three defeats, with 10 goals scored and 13 conceded. In their last five league matches, they have not won: they have drawn three and lost two. Carrick’s confirmation comes as he also needs to restore confidence and improve results.

The Bournemouth defeat extended the winless run and intensified scrutiny of the coach and the decision to keep him in charge. After the match, United supporters cheered Carrick while the players were booed at Old Trafford. Fernandes remains captain, but his place in the starting line-up and the team’s efforts to improve results are separate issues.