Manchester, October 29: Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has firmly backed Bruno Fernandes, confirming he will retain the captain's armband for the crucial Premier League clash against Chelsea on Saturday. This comes amidst recent speculation after Fernandes was an unused substitute in United's surprising 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth.

Addressing reporters, Carrick dismissed any doubts about Fernandes' role. “There’s no decision to be made on that. Bruno is fully committed to the football club; there are no issues with that. We look ahead to the game on Saturday,” he stated.

The Portuguese midfielder's omission against Bournemouth followed an emotional reaction to United’s UEFA Champions League loss to Galatasaray, raising questions about his standing. However, Carrick emphasized the 31-year-old's continued importance to the squad and his dedication to improving team performance.

“He is an important player for this group; he has been, and he will be. Between us, we have got to make a difference; we have got to push things in a different direction. He is fully committed to this football club; he is fully committed to making things better,” Carrick added, highlighting Fernandes' unwavering leadership.

In a positive development, midfielder Kobbie Mainoo has returned to training after an injury sustained against Tottenham Hotspur. Carrick mentioned, “Kobbie has done a little bit of training yesterday. So, he’s back and around the group, so that’s obviously positive,” hinting at his potential inclusion in the matchday squad against Chelsea. United, under pressure after recent results, including the Bournemouth loss, are keen to regain momentum at Stamford Bridge.

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