Bruno Fernandes insisted there was no lasting problem between him and Michael Carrick after dismissing reports about their relationship as “a lot of lies” following Manchester United’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Roma.
The United captain addressed the controversy for the first time since being dropped to the bench following his public criticism of Carrick’s tactics after the humiliating 4-1 defeat against Como.
Fernandes had questioned the team’s approach after that disappointing result, sparking speculation about a breakdown in his relationship with the manager.
However, the midfielder returned to the starting lineup for United’s Premier League defeat against Chelsea before playing an important role in Tuesday’s Champions League comeback against Roma.
United had fallen 2-0 behind at Old Trafford but produced an impressive second-half response to secure all three points.
Fernandes converted a 58th-minute penalty to begin the comeback, giving his teammates renewed belief before the hosts completed their remarkable turnaround.
Speaking after the match, the Portuguese midfielder admitted that the situation had been difficult because of the reports surrounding his relationship with Carrick.
“It’s been tough, there’s been a lot of speculation in the media,” Fernandes told Amazon Prime.
“A lot of lies around many things that have happened between me and the manager, that we have cleared the air, then after that the manager took the decision to put me on the bench because I’m not performing. That’s fair.
“Everyone thought that was a punishment for the words that I had. And, if it was, it was right. The manager is the one who makes the decisions.
“It doesn’t change the belief I have of the manager and the staff and every player in this club. It doesn’t change my aim to win every game that I have ahead of me.”
The 32-year-old made it clear that his priority remained helping Manchester United recover from their difficult start to the season rather than becoming involved in disagreements with the coaching staff.
He also played down suggestions that Tuesday’s victory was primarily about protecting Carrick’s position at Old Trafford.
When asked whether the result would save the manager’s job, Fernandes responded: “We don’t need to save anyone’s job.”
He added: “The club needed that win, the players needed that win. We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together.”
Schmeichel backs Fernandes over Carrick speculation
Former Manchester United and Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel supported Fernandes’ comments, arguing that media reports about disagreements inside football clubs often fail to reflect the complete situation.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Schmeichel said he hoped the victory would allow everyone involved to move forward without further public discussions about the disagreement.
“In Bruno Fernandes’ defence is that I’ve been in football a long time and what’s reported in the media is a fraction of the truth usually,” said Schmeichel.
“The amount of times I saw something written about the clubs I was playing in that couldn’t be further from the truth was absolutely staggering.
“I hope for Manchester United and Michael Carrick they can draw a line under all this public stuff and they can get back to winning games like they did today.”
Schmeichel also welcomed Fernandes’ willingness to publicly address the situation and reaffirm his support for the manager.
The former goalkeeper’s comments reflected the importance of unity at a club that has struggled to find consistency during the opening weeks of the campaign.
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Manchester United players rally behind Carrick
Tuesday’s victory was particularly important for Carrick, who had faced growing pressure following United’s disappointing results.
The 45-year-old guided the club back into the Champions League last season after winning 12 of his 17 matches in charge. His performances earned him a two-year contract, but results have deteriorated significantly this campaign.
United entered the Roma fixture sitting 17th in the Premier League table, having managed just one victory from their opening nine league matches.
The 4-1 defeat against Como and subsequent criticism from Fernandes increased the pressure surrounding the manager, with questions emerging about his future at Old Trafford.
Carrick had reportedly been close to losing his position following the disappointing results, but the club’s board decided to give him more time to turn things around.
Following the comeback against Roma, midfielder Youri Tielemans praised the team’s response and insisted the players needed to demonstrate their support for the manager.
“There has been a lot of pressure on him and that’s how we repay him, with a comeback like this, big character, big fight,” Tielemans told Amazon Prime.
The midfielder was also asked whether the result would secure Carrick’s position, but insisted that the players could only concentrate on supporting their manager.
“That’s a different question. The only thing we can do is stick behind him, fight for him and fight for the club.”
Kobbie Mainoo also welcomed the result, describing the victory as a major relief after United’s difficult run.
“A big sigh of relief, we’ve needed this win for a while and hopefully we can carry it on,” he told Amazon Prime.
The result ended United’s nine-game winless run and provided Carrick with some much-needed breathing space.
United also moved up to 17th in the Champions League league-phase standings after recording their second victory in four matches.
However, the victory will only become significant if the players can reproduce that determination in their upcoming fixtures.
For Fernandes, the priority will be maintaining his influence on the pitch while putting the speculation surrounding his relationship with Carrick behind him. The United captain has publicly reaffirmed his belief in the manager, leaving the club with an opportunity to rebuild unity and finally deliver the consistency their season has been missing.
