Bruno Fernandes has backed Michael Carrick for the Manchester United job after saying the former midfielder changed the team when he returned to Old Trafford. Fernandes, speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show on the 24th local time, said Carrick brought the positive energy United needed and was ready for the next step.
Fernandes said Carrick was more than an assistant coach and that his preparation and communication stood out from the first time he took temporary charge in November 2021. He also said Carrick helped the squad stop dwelling on what it should have done and instead focus on what it wants to achieve this season.
The praise carries weight because United have been trying to build momentum in a season that has them sitting third in the English Premier League. Carrick returned in January this year after manager Ruben Amorim was dismissed, and United went on to win eight of their first 12 matches under him. Media reports have since said he has emerged as the most likely candidate to become permanent manager.
Fernandes’ endorsement also fits the mood around the dressing room. The same report said Carrick has support from key players including Amad Diallo and Brian Mbeumo, a sign that his case is not being made only from the outside. For a club chasing UEFA Champions League qualification, that kind of backing matters as much as any public statement.
Fernandes’ own future has also been under scrutiny. Last summer, Al-Hilal offered him a deal worth 200 million pounds, including a weekly salary of 700,000 pounds and tax exemptions, but he stayed at United because he said he could not leave while the club was facing difficulties. With his contract expiring next year, his decision has only sharpened attention on both his commitment and the direction of the team.
That leaves Carrick with a familiar kind of test at United: the results have improved, the senior players appear to trust him, and the club is moving toward its biggest objective of the season. If the board wants continuity over another reset, Fernandes may have just said out loud what several around the team already believe.
