Manchester United coach Carrick and captain Fernandes hold private meeting

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick and captain Bruno Fernandes met at the club's Carrington training ground for a private discussion, separate from a full-squad meeting aimed at addressing the team's recent difficulties. The meeting followed United's 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como and a 3-0 Premier League loss to Bournemouth, after which Fernandes was omitted from the starting lineup.

"We needed to clear the air and talk about the way forward," Carrick said after the session.

Following the talks, United officials indicated that Fernandes is likely to be selected for the Saturday away match against Chelsea. The midfielder, who won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award last season, has been described as returning to form in the past 48 hours after a challenging period on and off the pitch.

United currently sit 16th in the Premier League with only one league win this season, a victory over newly promoted Ipswich. Despite speculation that Carrick might be dismissed after the Bournemouth defeat, the club retained him for training on Tuesday and signalled continued support.

The meeting comes amid broader criticism of the club's hierarchy, including Director of Football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, over perceived shortcomings in the summer transfer window. Fans at Old Trafford expressed mixed reactions, applauding Carrick while also voicing discontent toward other club officials.