Carrick and Fernandes hold clear-the-air talks before Chelsea trip

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks at the club's training ground on Tuesday, ahead of the team's Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday. Sources told BBC Sport the pair spoke privately, though it is not known who instigated the conversation.

Fernandes, 32, was an unused substitute in United's 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday. He had been dropped to the bench after criticising Carrick's tactics following the 4-1 Champions League loss against Como. The Portuguese could return to the starting line-up at Stamford Bridge.

Carrick was widely expected to be sacked after the Bournemouth result, but he will take charge of the match at Chelsea. The United board decided the 45-year-old deserved the chance to turn things around at Old Trafford, despite the club sitting 16th in the Premier League.

There was further encouragement for Carrick on Wednesday when midfielder Kobbie Mainoo returned to training after a fortnight out through injury.

The episode places the relationship between coach and captain under scrutiny at a club already struggling for results. Fernandes' criticism and subsequent benching raised questions about dressing-room harmony, while the board's decision to keep Carrick signals a preference for continuity over another managerial change. Fernandes' possible reinstatement against Chelsea would be the first concrete indication of whether the talks repaired the working relationship.

Supporters have yet to see a public explanation of the discussions, and the club has not disclosed details of what was said. The trip to Chelsea now serves as an immediate test of whether the private conversation translates into a more settled team.

Source: BBC Sport

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