Michael Carrick has been handed what could prove to be a crucial opportunity to save his Manchester United job, with Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea arriving as his side sit only one point clear of the relegation places.
United travel to London without a victory in eight matches across all competitions, while Carrick is also attempting to contain tensions within his squad. Those issues came into focus when he left captain Bruno Fernandes out of the starting line-up for last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth.
Carrick insisted the omission was made solely for sporting reasons, but the move proved damaging as United collapsed and slipped into 16th place. Fernandes watched helplessly from the substitutes’ bench, while supporters applauded Carrick but directed boos at the players after another dismal result.
The Portugal midfielder had been dropped after questioning United’s approach following their 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Carrick must now decide whether to keep his captain out or restore his most inventive midfielder for the meeting with fifth-placed Chelsea, who were beaten at Stamford Bridge by Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.
United badly lacked Fernandes’ creativity against Bournemouth, and the defeat left them with just seven points from eight league games, narrowly above the bottom three.
Fernandes collected England’s major Player of the Year awards last season, but has found form harder to come by during the current campaign. Even so, United looked considerably less threatening without the Portuguese international directing matters from midfield on Sunday.
“It was a decision based on what we felt was right for the game. That’s it,” Carrick said at his Thursday press conference when asked about leaving Fernandes on the bench.
“Bruno is fully committed to this football club and there are absolutely no issues. We move forward, make decisions as we go and focus on Saturday’s game.”
Carrick confirmed that Fernandes will continue as United captain following discussions intended to clear the air.
“My responsibility is to the players … Of course we’ve spoken. We have meetings. The boys are hungry. We’re hurting because we haven’t won enough football games. But there is an intensity, an edge, a hunger to do better,” Carrick said.
Elsewhere, the Premier League weekend also brings two major matches involving the division’s top four sides.
Table-topping Manchester City will aim to respond to their first league loss of the season when third-placed Brighton & Hove Albion visit, while reigning champions Arsenal head to Liverpool still recovering from their League Cup elimination against fourth-tier opposition.
