Manchester United’s manager Michael Carrick confirmed that midfielder Bruno Fernandes will remain captain of the club, despite the Portuguese player being dropped for the 3‑0 loss to Bournemouth on Sunday after voicing criticism of the team’s tactics. Carrick, who has retained his position amid an eight‑game winless streak and the club’s worst start to a Premier League campaign since 1986, said the decision on the armband was already settled before the match.
Fernandes was left on the bench for the Bournemouth game but will return to the starting XI for the upcoming clash with Chelsea on Saturday, where he will also keep the captaincy. Carrick handed the armband to centre‑back Harry Maguire for the Sunday defeat, but reiterated that the overall leadership role belongs to Fernandes. “There is no decision to be made on the captaincy,” Carrick told reporters. “It will be Bruno. He is an important player for this group, he has been and he will be. We have to make a difference and push things in a good direction. He’s fully committed to the club and to improving things.”
The club’s situation remains precarious, with the team struggling to find form and the board’s involvement highlighted by recent discussions. Carrick also addressed the injury status of striker Benjamin Sesko, who has been sidelined since the Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton on 16 September. “Ben looks like he’s going to be out for a period of time,” Carrick said. “We’re still not clear on exactly how long, but it will be for a longer period. The healing process is still underway.”
Meanwhile, young forward Kobbie Mainoo is expected to rejoin the squad for the Chelsea trip after a brief layoff, having trained with the team this week. The club’s injury list and managerial decisions underscore the challenges United face as they aim to reverse their poor start to the season. The next match against Chelsea will be a key test of whether the retained leadership and squad adjustments can spark a turnaround.