Bruno Fernandes Hails Carrick’s Impact on Man United After Amorim Era
Bruno Fernandes has credited interim boss Michael Carrick with transforming the mood and results at Manchester United, insisting he always believed the former midfielder was ready to step into the spotlight.
Carrick first took charge on a temporary basis in November 2021 following the dismissal of Ole Gunnar Solskjær. During that brief spell, he guided United to victories over Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw against Chelsea, before stepping aside when Ralf Rangnick was appointed interim manager.
Now back in the dugout after the departure of Ruben Amorim, Carrick has once again impressed—this time over a longer stretch—fueling growing belief that he could be handed the role on a permanent basis.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, Fernandes reflected on Carrick’s early influence.
“He had three games as a manager, but the way he prepared and spoke to us showed he was more than an assistant. You could see he was ready for the next step,” Fernandes said.
Carrick’s second spell in charge has yielded eight wins in 12 matches, lifting United into third place in the Premier League and putting them on the brink of UEFA Champions League qualification—an outcome few predicted earlier in the season.
Fernandes highlighted the shift in mentality Carrick brought to the squad.
“When he came in, he brought the positive energy the team needed. It wasn’t just about nice words—he knew when to be strong and when to bring the group together. That changed the whole environment,” he explained.
“We stopped thinking about what went wrong and focused on what we could still achieve. At that moment, we never imagined we’d be third.”
Despite the turnaround, Carrick’s future remains unresolved. The 44-year-old has stated he will not push co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for clarity, even as players including Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo publicly support his appointment.
Away from the dugout, Fernandes himself faces an uncertain future, with his contract set to expire next year. The Portuguese midfielder revealed he turned down a lucrative move to Saudi side Al-Hilal last summer, despite a package reportedly worth around £200 million.
Instead, he chose to remain at Old Trafford, citing unfinished business and the influence of his wife, Ana Pinho.
“I stayed because I felt I still had something to give to this club,” Fernandes said. “The offer was huge, but we don’t want to be the richest—we want to achieve our dreams and live a good life.”
