Carrick backs Man Utd captain Fernandes as 'as good as ever'

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has expressed strong support for team captain Bruno Fernandes, describing the midfielder's commitment as "undoubted" and saying he is "as good as ever," according to reports from both Yahoo Sports and BBC Sport.

Fernandes was previously left out of the squad following criticism of Carrick and his coaching staff after a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como. He was also not brought on during a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth. However, he returned to the team for the Premier League defeat by Chelsea and played a key role in a comeback win against Roma, scoring a retaken penalty and assisting another goal.

The Portugal international rejected reports of "clear-the-air talks" with Carrick, which club sources had confirmed. Carrick declined to reveal details of their discussions but said the conversations are part of everyday life at the club's training ground, Carrington, and indicated that the relationship had moved in a positive direction.

Carrick also highlighted the performance of Matheus Cunha, who was instrumental in the win against Roma, urging him to maintain that level of play to increase his goal tally for the season.

Despite the team's recent struggles, including winning only one of their last ten games in all competitions, Carrick said he has not been informed about his future as manager and plans to continue as normal. The club's leadership is expected to assess the managerial situation after an upcoming Premier League game against Aston Villa.

Both Yahoo Sports and BBC Sport provided these updates on the situation at Manchester United, reflecting ongoing developments in the club's season and management.