Fernandes tells Carrick he is committed to turning season around in clear-the-air talks

Fernandes assured Carrick of his commitment after criticising tactics; the captain is expected to start against Chelsea on Saturday.

Bruno Fernandes and Michael Carrick held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday morning at Carrington after the Manchester United captain publicly questioned the manager's tactical approach following last week's 4-1 defeat at Como. Fernandes offered assurances that he remains fully committed to turning the team's season around, and the squad held a separate meeting where players made the same pledge.

Carrick had dropped Fernandes for Sunday's 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth in response to the criticism, but the captain is now expected to return to the line-up for Saturday's trip to Chelsea. The talks come as Carrick's job security remains under scrutiny; United have won just twice in 12 games and sit 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone. Director of football Jason Wilcox has decided to give Carrick more time, with Chelsea followed by Roma in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the league, before a two-week international break offers a longer window for the board to assess the situation.