Carrick wants no assurances; Fernandes stays Man Utd captain
Michael Carrick said on Thursday he wants no guarantees from Manchester United's bosses about his job, confirmed Bruno Fernandes stays captain and said Benjamin Sesko faces a long lay-off before Saturday's trip to Chelsea (13:30 WAT).
By Emily · 29 Oct 2026, 15:35 WAT
Michael Carrick did not ask Manchester United's hierarchy for a promise about his future, and he said on Thursday 29 October that he does not want one. Speaking at Carrington before Saturday's Premier League game at Chelsea, the head coach said: "I don't need any assurances from anyone. I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities."
The news conference started at about 15:00 WAT. It was his first since Sunday's 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth, which left United 16th in the table and without a win in eight matches, a run that includes the 4-1 Champions League loss at Como. Many expected him to be sacked after that game, but the club chose to give him more time.
Asked if he was surprised still to be in charge, Carrick replied: "No. I'm here to do my job." He said he "didn't expect anything" after Sunday, and admitted the mood at Old Trafford that day was "a little bit different to normal". He also said he does not follow the outside noise: "I don't look for it. It doesn't really help in any way."
The captaincy is not changing. Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth after he criticised the team's tactics following the defeat at Como, and the two have since held clear-the-air talks. Asked if Fernandes was still captain, Carrick said: "No, there's no decision to be made on that" (Manchester Evening News). He said leaving the Portuguese out had been a decision "for what we felt for the game", and told BBC Sport that Fernandes has led the team "for many a game and many a year, and he'll continue to do that".
There was mixed news on fitness. Kobbie Mainoo, who has not played since the 1-1 draw with Tottenham on 10 October and missed four matches, trained on Wednesday and is "back in and around the group". But Carrick said striker Benjamin Sesko is "going to be out for a period of time" with his shin problem. The club are "still not clear of exactly how long", although reports earlier this week said he could be out until January.
TuSport desk view: the biggest question Carrick left open is who leads the line at Stamford Bridge, and our data shows how little he has to choose from. Matheus Cunha has played about 550 Premier League minutes this season, with one goal and two assists from 17 shots. Joshua Zirkzee has had barely 70 league minutes. So the choice is between moving Cunha, who has been more of a creator than a finisher, into the middle, or trusting a striker who has barely played. Neither option comes with goals already proven this season.
The captaincy call also makes sense on the numbers. Fernandes has played 630 Premier League minutes this season, with three goals and one assist, so he remains United's second-top league scorer. Leaving him out again at Chelsea, with Sesko missing, would remove another source of goals from an attack that is already short of them. Keeping him as captain also ends a public debate that was growing all week.
That is why Saturday matters so much. Carrick has kept his job, but not much time. Roy Keane, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast and quoted by BBC Sport, said the coaches "have to start getting results, on Saturday get a result at Chelsea". Keane added that if United lose there, "it will be the same conversation on Sunday". Thursday's answers were short and calm, and they set out three clear positions: Fernandes keeps the armband, Mainoo is available again, and Carrick is asking nobody above him to guarantee his job.
For fans in Nigeria, the run that will decide this starts with an early kick-off. United visit Chelsea on Saturday 31 October (13:30 WAT), host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday 3 November (21:00 WAT) and host Aston Villa on Sunday 8 November (17:30 WAT). After the international break they go to Liverpool on 22 November (17:30 WAT). All kick-off times are on our fixtures page.
Sources: TuSport player data (league totals, updated 29 October, 14:43 WAT) · BBC Sport live blog · Manchester Evening News live blog
