Michael Carrick has backed Bruno Fernandes to remain Manchester United captain and said the pair are ready to move on after the midfielder was dropped for the defeat by Bournemouth.
Fernandes had spoken about Carrick’s tactics following the Champions League loss at Como, before being named among the substitutes for Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat. Carrick said the decision was made purely for football reasons and stood by that explanation ahead of United’s trip to Chelsea on Saturday.
“It was a decision for the game. That’s it,” Carrick said. “Bruno is fully committed to this football club. I’ve got no issues with that, we move forward.”
Carrick also dismissed any suggestion that Fernandes’ position as captain was under threat after Harry Maguire wore the armband against Bournemouth.
“There’s no decision to be made on that,” he said, before offering firm support for the 32-year-old midfielder.
“He’s the captain of our football club,” Carrick said. “There are different personalities, different characteristics, different ways to lead. It all comes down to what happens on the football pitch and whether you win or not in the end.
“He cares deeply about this football club and the team and he’s desperate to do well. We’ll lead that together.”
Michael Carrick rejects need for assurances over future
Carrick’s own position has faced scrutiny since the Bournemouth defeat extended Manchester United’s worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox met at the club’s Carrington training ground this week to discuss the next steps, but Carrick remains in charge for the Chelsea match.
The head coach said he had no need for guarantees from the club’s hierarchy about his long-term future.
“I don’t need assurances from anyone,” Carrick said. “I totally get the position, I get the job, the responsibility, I get what comes with that. I really don’t need any assurances from anyone in that regard.”
Carrick said his attention was firmly on preparing United for Chelsea and that he paid little notice to criticism or speculation in the media.
“I don’t look for it. It doesn’t help,” he said. “I’ve said it before, I care about what the supporters think. I care about how it feels in the stadium and them travelling to games – I care about what we give them and what they see.
“I genuinely don’t take any notice of anything else. I know this job and I know what we need to be better. I don’t need anyone else to tell me.”
Asked whether he was surprised to still be in the job, Carrick replied: “No. I’m here to do my job. I’m here to do the best for the team. I’m desperate to make things better and improve things. I’m not surprised, no.”
