Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes have buried the hatched after the Manchester United skipper was dropped during their 3-0 humiliation against Bournemouth

Michael Carrick has buried the hatchet with Bruno Fernandes following peace talks between the warring duo. And it means Fernandes could be recalled to the team for this weekend’s crunch showdown at Chelsea.

Fernandes found himself axed for last week’s home defeat to Bournemouth after criticising his manager’s tactics. Fernandes hit out following United’s loss to Como in the Champions League.

Carrick hit back by questioning the work rate of his captain and team. Carrick left Fernandes stewing on the bench throughout the humiliating 3-0 defeat to the Cherries at Old Trafford. The midfielder was one of several stars abused by United fans following the game.

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But Carrick and Fernandes have now held showdown talks to settle their differences. Carrick decided to have a meeting with Fernandes at the club’s Carrington training ground, after it emerged he would still be in charge for the game at Stamford Bridge.

The duo have agreed to move forward and put the recent past behind them. Carrick might need to beat Chelsea to save himself from the sack. His side have gone eight games without a win and find themselves one point above the relegation zone.

And Carrick knows he needs his captain and most influential player back on side ahead of the difficult trip to London.

Fernandes had been openly critical after the Como clash: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, wait for them. But sometimes when you give space to these teams they get confidence," he told HBO Max.

"It's not the first time, we started on the wrong foot, and they scored very early. Not much pressure on the ball, not many good movements with the ball, not many things going our way.

"Conceding early makes us go into game with a mood of defeat, it's difficult to get out of that, trying to be brave, to have the ball and make something happen. If we are not able to do that, it is going to be very difficult to get out of this situation."

When pushed on Carrick's responsibility for the loss, Fernandes responded: "That's on the manager and staff to see, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.

"As you saw with them [Como], the centre-back was coming to mark me in my own half. We need to do that as a team but we were unable to. A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide.

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