Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has declared that captain Bruno Fernandes is "as good as ever" and insisted the midfielder's commitment to the club is "undoubted." The comments come after Fernandes scored a retaken penalty to spark a second-half comeback against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Fernandes had been left on the bench for October's home defeat by Bournemouth following his criticism of Carrick and the coaching staff after a 4-1 Champions League loss in Como. He returned to the starting lineup for the Premier League defeat by Chelsea and then played a pivotal role in the victory over Roma.
After the match, Fernandes dismissed reports of a strained relationship with Carrick, saying there had been "a lot of lies" and rejecting the notion of formal "clear-the-air talks." Carrick, meanwhile, pointed to Fernandes' composure in retaking the penalty as evidence of his mindset.
Managerial pressure remains
Carrick refused to disclose details of his conversations with Fernandes but said discussions are a regular part of life at the club's Carrington training ground. United's hierarchy is expected to review the managerial situation after Sunday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Old Trafford.
With only one win in nine matches — a victory over Ipswich in August — United face the prospect of spending the international break in the relegation zone if they fail to beat Villa. Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win over Manchester City has further highlighted the precarious position.
Carrick acknowledged in the matchday programme that while the Roma win was encouraging, the team must show significant improvement and build momentum after the international break.
