Manchester United manager Michael Carrick took the stage for a five‑minute, 30‑second address, insisting he would not rule out dropping skipper Bruno Fernandes before the Premier League match against Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Rather than sit and answer questions as usual at the Friday pre‑match media conference at Carrington, Carrick chose to speak first, a tactic famously used by former boss Sir Alex Ferguson.
After a run of seven games without a win, capped by a 4‑1 Champions League defeat to Como, Carrick said the club had "gone away from that" and that the foundation and values of the club must be upheld.
Asked about Fernandes, Carrick replied that the most important thing was the team and its dynamics, adding: "I will always do what is best for the football club." He declined to say whether he had spoken to Fernandes about his conduct.
Club sources confirmed that Fernandes would not lose the captaincy or face a fine for his post‑match remarks. Carrick also noted the club was supporting Fernandes and his family after a burglary at their Cheshire home.
Despite the criticism, Carrick said the dressing room was not divided and that the club was "doing everything" to get back to its core values.
Manchester United face Bournemouth on Sunday; the outcome will test Carrick’s leadership and the squad’s resilience.
