Michael Carrick makes Bruno Fernandes decision ahead of Chelsea trip

**The spectre of Bruno Fernandes hovered above Michael Carrick now that he’s set to stay as Man Utd manager but a decision has been made. **

Bruno Fernandes was dropped from the starting XI against Bournemouth and then hammered further when Michael Carrick didn’t bring him off the bench.

It couldn’t go on without a resolution, so the expectation was that it would end with the manager’s sacking.

Now that that is no longer happening, a decision has been made on the future of the club captain.

Bruno Fernandes to start against Chelsea

Reports have emerged that Bruno Fernandes has held face-to-face talks with Carrick in an attempt to clear the air after the former’s outburst post-Como loss.

The meeting has gone well, and Fernandes is set to return to the starting XI, determined to get the season back on track.

Fernandes has a good record at Stamford Bridge and it’s not like any player who started against Bournemouth really made an impression that he’s worth keeping in the XI instead of Fernandes.

The report also states that the manager met with the whole squad to address the declining standards this season, and everyone is on the same page.

Now, this could just be briefings to paint a better picture than it is, since Ineos’ lack of planning has been exposed now, or this is a genuine inflexion point.

Either way, United need a response against Chelsea, because the same thing was said after the loss to Como, only for United to surrender at Old Trafford.

Fernandes might just be about to play the most intensely scrutinised game of his football career.