Fernandes denies clear-the-air talks with Carrick after United's 3-2 comeback over Roma

Bruno Fernandes has flatly denied that any clear-the-air talks took place between himself and Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick, calling widespread reports of a reconciliation meeting “a lot of lies” following United’s 3-2 comeback victory over Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The Portuguese captain had been dropped to the bench for the defeat to Chelsea after publicly criticising Carrick’s tactics a fortnight earlier. Reports suggested the two had met to resolve the tension before Fernandes was restored to the starting XI, but the player pushed back firmly on that narrative after the final whistle.

“There’s been a lot of speculation in the media, a lot of lies around many things that happened in this club between me and the manager, like that we had clear-the-air talks,” Fernandes said. “Nothing like that happened.”

Fernandes acknowledged that his omission against Chelsea may well have been a consequence of his earlier outburst, and said he accepted Carrick’s authority to make that call. “The manager took a decision to put myself on the bench because I wasn’t performing and that’s fair — everyone felt it was a punishment for the words I said, and if it was, it was right. The manager is the one who makes the decisions; I have to accept them.”

Despite the friction, Fernandes was emphatic that his commitment to the club and to Carrick remains unchanged. “It doesn’t change the belief I have on the manager, on the staff and every player in this club, and it doesn’t change my aim to win every f** game ahead of me.”

The win itself offered some relief for a United side enduring a difficult season. Fernandes described it as a result the squad badly needed, though he was careful not to overstate its significance. When pressed on whether the victory over Roma could represent a turning point, his answer was brief and pointed: “It should be.”

Carrick, whose position has come under scrutiny amid a run of poor results, will hope the performance provides a platform to stabilise United’s campaign. Whether the result eases the pressure on the head coach, however, remains to be seen.