Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes hold talks to resolve Man Utd rift

Manchester United's manager Michael Carrick and their captain Bruno Fernandes have held face-to-face talks in an attempt to put their recent disagreement behind them. The meeting took place at the club’s Carrington training ground as United look to overcome a difficult run of results and restore unity within the squad.

Tensions escalated after Fernandes appeared to question Carrick’s tactical approach following United’s heavy 4–1 defeat to Como in the Champions League. The Portuguese midfielder expressed frustration with the team’s pressing strategy, arguing that allowing opponents too much possession made it harder for United to regain control of matches. Carrick subsequently left his captain on the bench for the entire 3–0 Premier League defeat against Bournemouth, describing the decision as a purely footballing one.

According to reports, the discussions between the pair were open and constructive, with both seeking to move forward. Fernandes is now back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, although Carrick has yet to confirm whether the midfielder will return to the starting line-up. The manager is also expected to remain in charge for the Stamford Bridge encounter despite growing pressure following United’s disappointing results.

The meeting comes at a crucial moment for the club, with United struggling to find consistency and sitting dangerously close to the Premier League relegation zone. A separate meeting involving the wider squad also took place, with players and staff acknowledging that performances must improve. Repairing the relationship between Carrick and Fernandes could be an important step, but the immediate priority will be delivering a better result against Chelsea.