'Bruno's as good as ever' - Carrick backs Man Utd captain

What the report says

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has publicly defended captain Bruno Fernandes, saying his dedication to the club is beyond doubt and that he remains in strong form. The comments came after a turbulent spell in which Fernandes was dropped for the Premier League defeat by Bournemouth following criticism of Carrick and his staff after United’s heavy Champions League loss to Como.

Fernandes returned to the side for the league match against Chelsea and then played a central role in United’s comeback win over Roma in the Champions League, scoring a retaken penalty to help spark the turnaround. After that match, Fernandes also pushed back against reports about tension with Carrick, while the manager declined to discuss the detail of their private conversations.

Carrick said the team has had ongoing discussions about standards and improvement at Carrington, but insisted the key point was that Fernandes continues to deliver on the pitch. He said the captain’s actions in a difficult moment showed his value to the squad.

The backdrop remains uncertain for United. The club is expected to review the managerial situation after Sunday’s Premier League match against Aston Villa, and Carrick acknowledged the pressure of a poor run that has left the team near the bottom of the table. The BBC’s report frames the Roma win as potentially important, but not yet enough to suggest the broader problems have been solved.