Michael Carrick is at fault as much as Bruno Fernandes for faltering dynamic with another Man Utd star – opinion

Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes have had a knock-on effect for another Manchester United player’s performances in the 2026-27 campaign at Old Trafford.

Bruno Fernandes returned to the starting XI for Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday after he was dropped by Michael Carrick last month.

The 32-year-old Portuguese midfielder played the full 90 minutes and was behind Bryan Mbeumo in the No 10 role in United’s Premier League encounter with Chelsea.

Fernandes had Amad Diallo to the right and Matheus Cunha on the left, as the Man Utd captain’s stumbling dynamic with one United first-team player was clear as day.

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Michael Carrick has played a part in Bruno Fernandes’ dwindling Man Utd chemistry with Matheus Cunha

Ahead of the Chelsea match on Saturday afternoon, Opta Analyst spotlighted the influence of Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha playing alongside one another last season. According to the publication, Fernandes produced more open-play chances for Cunha — at 23 in total — than anyone else at Manchester United.

Cunha arrived at Old Trafford from Wolves in the summer of 2025 and the 27-year-old Brazilian forward was a key attacking influence for both Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim last season. However, the Brazil international was able to play in either a left-sided No 10 role or as a left winger for the majority of last season.

Cunha has only played four times in 13 matches from the left in the current campaign, as Carrick has adapted his tactics for Man Utd. The former Wolves forward has alternated with Bryan Mbeumo in the lone forward role due to the absence of Benjamin Sesko. Carrick has also swapped Cunha out of the left-sided role at times for Marcus Rashford this season.

Cunha has lacked consistency in a role that he thrived in at Wolves and the knock-on effect has hindered the dynamic with Fernandes from developing further this season. Fernandes, much like Cunha, has been impacted by Carrick’s tactics from consistently playing in the No 10 role.

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The Man Utd skipper has found himself operating from the right wing in United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid and from a false nine role in the 4-1 loss to Como last month. Fernandes and Cunha have started nine times together out of 12 matches this season, while three occasions have come when one of them has climbed off the bench.

In their nine starts together under Carrick in the 2026-27 campaign, Fernandes and Cunha’s roles against Chelsea were in their preferred positions. However, Cunha came off the pitch in the 66th minute for Mason Mount and the same magic from a Fernandes link-up was lacking from last season.

Carrick is not entirely at fault for the Fernandes and Cunha dynamic struggling, but he must shoulder a large part of the responsibility. Fernandes is at fault for his form dipping this season outside of his standout performance in United’s 5-2 win over Ipswich Town in August.

The cracks in the dynamic are evident compared with last season. Fernandes’ stunning run of form in the second half of the 2025-26 campaign saw him assist Cunha against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. Cunha, on the other hand, set up Fernandes in Man Utd’s 2-0 win over Manchester City back in January. Compared with this season, however, neither Cunha nor Fernandes has registered an assist for one another in a United link-up.