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Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes have reportedly sat down to "clear the air" and mend their fractured relationship in the wake of Manchester United's woeful 3–0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Fernandes was left out of the matchday squad during the humiliating loss after his contentious public criticism of Carrick and his coaching staff following the equally embarrassing 4–1 defeat to Como just four days earlier.
United's captain unleashed a striking outburst about the club's tactical approach after a bruising night in northern Italy, echoing Lisandro Martínez, who had publicly called out director of football Jason Wilcox the week before.
Sunday's defeat to Bournemouth appeared likely to be Carrick's last game in the dugout after a dreadful start to the season, yet the Red Devils have opted to retain him ahead of their upcoming Premier League clash with Chelsea this Saturday.
Following United's decision on Carrick's short-term future, The Guardian has reported that the 45-year-old patched things up with Fernandes after talks held at the club's training ground on Tuesday.
The Portugal international reportedly offered "assurances that he is fully committed and intent on trying to turn the team's season around," after which a full squad meeting took place in which his teammates "made the same vow."
What Next for Fernandes After Carrick Truce?
On the surface, this represents a clean slate for Carrick, Fernandes, and the rest of the United squad. However, nothing is ever quite so simple at Old Trafford.
According to The Guardian, Fernandes is set to feature from the start against Chelsea as he looks to shake off his own underwhelming run of form. He has contributed just four goals and one assist so far this season—all of which came in home fixtures against Ipswich Town and Sabah FK.
Much like Carrick and several others in United's dressing room, Fernandes is in urgent need of a rapid improvement in his performances.
The Red Devils currently sit in 16th and 21st in the Premier League and Champions League respectively, and they were also knocked out of the Carabao Cup following a shocking collapse against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Patience is wearing dangerously thin—as demonstrated by the boos that rang out after the Bournemouth match, directed at the players rather than Carrick—and another defeat to Chelsea could spell the end for the current setup.
Dressing Room Reacts to Carrick Sack Decision
Carrick will be hoping that the recent period of reflection sparks a positive reaction when United travel to Chelsea this weekend, and there are indications that he still has the support of at least some of his players.
"The feeling is that we all want to put it right. Players, staff, everyone," one anonymous United player recently told BBC Sport.
If Carrick is looking for encouragement ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge, he can draw comfort from the fact that United claimed back-to-back victories over Chelsea last season—including a solid 1–0 win under his management back in April.
The Red Devils boast a reasonably strong recent record against the Blues, winning four of the last seven encounters, and they have only suffered three defeats in this fixture since the 2017–18 FA Cup final.