Bruno Fernandes Supports Michael Carrick as Manchester United Aims for Glory

Bruno Fernandes stood in a London ballroom with another individual prize in his hands, but his focus was firmly on the man he believes can restore Manchester United’s collective glory.

“I’m here to serve the club,” he said, the words as much a declaration as a reminder. Serve the club – and, if the deal is completed as expected, serve Michael Carrick.

Fernandes backs Carrick for long haul

United sources are increasingly relaxed about the situation. A broad agreement is in place for Carrick, 44, to remain in charge. Inside the club, the mood is that it is now a question of when, not if, the contract is finalised. The formal announcement can wait; the direction of travel is clear.

Carrick was in the capital on Tuesday to present the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award to his captain. It was a neat snapshot of United’s present and possible future: the manager on the brink of a long‑term deal, handing the game’s latest individual honour to the man who has become his standard‑bearer.

Fernandes, 31, has just joined elite company by equalling the Premier League record for assists in a single season. His 20th came in Sunday’s breathless 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford, a game that ended with the crowd chanting Carrick’s name. The numbers underline Fernandes’ influence; the noise around the stadium underlines Carrick’s.

Asked again about the prospect of Carrick being appointed on a permanent basis, Fernandes did not need to search for new superlatives.

“I spoke a lot of times about him,” he said. “I already said many things about how good he could be as a manager in the past, so I think those words are still there.”

The message has not changed. What has changed is the weight behind it. Carrick now has a body of work, not just a reputation.

“I’m here to serve the club”

Fernandes was careful not to stray into boardroom territory. The decision, he knows, does not belong to the dressing room.

“Obviously, it’s not in my hands deciding who’s going to be the next manager,” he added. “I’m here to serve the club, whether that is a manager that comes in, or if he stays, I will serve them in the same way.”

No agitation. No caveats. Just a senior player making it plain he will buy in, whoever sits in the dugout – while making equally plain who he believes should be there.

When the question turned to whether Carrick could take United back to the top of the league, Fernandes did not hesitate.

“I hope so, if he stays. I hope he’s one that can take us back to the top of the Premier League because this is what all the players want.”

That is the crux of it. For all the talk of projects, structures and strategies, United’s squad want a manager who can carry them back into a title conversation that has felt distant for too long. Fernandes clearly thinks Carrick can be that figure.

Carrick’s record and United’s shortest season

The evidence so far is encouraging. Since stepping in after Ruben Amorim’s departure in January, Carrick has overseen 11 wins in 16 matches. Results have stabilised, performances have sharpened, and the mood around Old Trafford has lifted.

United’s campaign, though, has been a curious one. They will finish on Sunday at Brighton, wrapping up a 40-game season – their shortest in 111 years. For a club used to deep runs on multiple fronts, the early exits have stung. The brevity of the calendar has only heightened the sense that this has been a transitional year.

Carrick leads his side to the south coast with that record behind him and a decision in front of the club. The supporters made their view clear against Forest. Their captain has now done the same.

The paperwork is still to come. The judgment on whether Carrick can take United back to the top of the Premier League will take far longer.