Bruno Fernandes hits back at reports of Carrick rift

Bruno Fernandes has dismissed reports of a breakdown in his relationship with Michael Carrick, insisting that much of the speculation surrounding Manchester United in recent weeks has been based on false information.

The United captain addressed the situation publicly after Tuesday’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Roma, which ended the club’s nine-match winless run and eased some of the pressure on Carrick.

Fernandes had not spoken to the media since being left out of the starting line-up following United’s 4-1 defeat to Como. The decision came after the midfielder publicly questioned Carrick’s tactical approach, prompting speculation about tensions between the pair.

However, Fernandes insisted that reports of a personal disagreement were wide of the mark. He also accepted the manager’s decision to drop him, saying it was based on his performances rather than any disciplinary action.

“There’s been a lot of speculation in the media. A lot of lies around many things that have happened between me and the manager,” Fernandes told Amazon Prime.

He added that he and Carrick had already cleared the air, while stressing that his confidence in the manager and coaching staff remained unchanged.

The Portugal international returned to the starting XI for the Premier League defeat against Chelsea before playing a decisive role against Roma. His 58th-minute penalty sparked United’s comeback after they had fallen two goals behind at Old Trafford.

Asked whether the result would help save Carrick’s job, Fernandes rejected the suggestion that the manager needed rescuing.

“We don’t need to save anyone’s job,” he said. “The club needed that win, the players needed that win. We have been working so hard to get out of this situation all together.”

Former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel backed Fernandes’ comments, suggesting that media reports often provide an incomplete picture of relationships inside football clubs.

He said he hoped the players and manager could now move beyond the public speculation and concentrate on winning matches.

The victory over Roma has provided United with some much-needed encouragement, but their next challenge will be to carry that momentum into Saturday’s meeting with Aston Villa.