Michael Carrick insists that he isn’t surprised to still be Manchester United’s head coach despite intense speculation over his future at Old Trafford – and confirmed that 'fully committed' Bruno Fernandes will remain as club captain.

United this week decided to give Carrick more time to turn the club’s wretched season around despite overseeing their worst start in 40 years.

The 45-year-old reiterated that he didn’t know what to expect after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford left United one place above the relegation zone, but insists he doesn’t need reassurances over his position from club bosses.

Asked if he is surprised to still be in charge, Carrick said: ‘No, I'm here to do my job. I'm here to do the best for the team and I'm desperate to make us better and improve things. So I'm not surprised no.

‘I don't need any assurances from anyone. I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities, I understand what comes with that. So I really don't need any assurances from anyone in that regard.

‘I care about what the supporters think, I care about what it feels like in the stadium. They're travelling to games to come and see us and support us. I care about what we give them and what we offer them and what they see.

'I genuinely don't take any notice of anything else. I know this job, I know what it brings, I know what we need to do to be better. I don't need anyone else to tell me anything else.

‘The outside is not anything for me to focus on. I know what we can affect, I know what we need to improve. So that's part of my direct role, is the players who I care about and can affect the most directly.

‘Of course, we spoke. we have meetings as we do every single week, but some of the meetings go in different ways depending on results and the situation and the feeling. I have to say the boys are hungry. We're hurting because we haven't won enough football games. But there's an intensity, there's a bit of an edge, there's a disappointment, there's a hunger to do better for sure.’

Carrick nodded when asked if Fernandes will stay as captain after being dropped against Bournemouth following his criticism of United’s tactics in the Champions League defeat to Como.

Harry Maguire wore the armband against Bournemouth, but Fernandes held clear-the-air talks with Carrick this week and is expected to lead the team at Chelsea on Saturday.

‘There's no decision to be made on that,’ said the United boss. ‘It was a decision (based on) what we felt for the game. That's it. Bruno's fully committed to this football club and there are absolutely no issues with that. We move forward, we make decisions as we go and we're looking forward to the game on Saturday now.

‘Listen, we're clear with the situation of the team, and as a football club at the moment. As I've just said, he's an important player for this group. He has been and he will be.

‘Between us, we've got to make a difference and we've got to push things in a good direction. 

'He's fully committed to this football club, and he's fully committed to making things better. It doesn't change for me. He's the one that's kind of led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he'll continue to do that.’

Carrick confirmed that Benjamin Sesko faces a long lay-off which could last until the New Year as he recovers from a troublesome shin injury. It leaves United without a recognised striker having decided not to sign one in the summer.

‘Unfortunately Ben looks like he's going to be out for a period of time,’ said Carrick, who also confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo has returned to training. ‘We're still not clear of exactly how long, but it's going to be for a longer period of time.

‘It was the process and we had to go through the process. It was a bit of a healing process for the injury to see how it would react and what direction to go with that. So even now we're still working through it.

'Not having him available is obviously a blow, but we’ll try and get him back as quickly as we can.’