MANCHESTER UNITED coach Michael Carrick insists Bruno Fernandes is “not someone we’d want to lose” nine months after the club were willing to sell him.
United were prepared to let Fernandes move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr for £80million until former coach Ruben Amorim intervened and pleaded with Fernandes to stay.
Fernandes, 31, broke David Beckham‘s club record of 15 Premier League assists in the 3-1 win against Aston Villa, with his pass for Matheus Cunha‘s winner his 100th assist for United.
The club captain is under contract until next year, with the option of an additional year, and Fernandes has spoken about the appeal of possibly returning to Portugal or Italy to finish his career.
Carrick has said he is planning for the long-term at United and indicated he would be opposed to Fernandes departing before his contract expires.
“In terms of the club and moving forward, it’s difficult for me to get involved in too much of that,” Carrick said.
“Bruno‘s definitely not someone we’d want to lose, I can say that.
“But the summer and beyond that, it’s difficult for me to kind of go too far with that.
“But certainly, he’s important for us and he’s definitely not one we would want to lose.
“I think he’s important for us and he’s playing in in positions now where we we need to find him and we need to we need to.
“Obviously, supply him as much as we can in for order time to to to make the difference, but it’s not just about Bruno.
“I understand that he’s had some really important moments recently and a long time he’s been here.
“But I think it’s a team and then the importance of of sharing that responsibility, so it’s not always on one player, I think is really important.
“And then it does make everyone else’s job that little bit easier, so he’s not taking everything on himself. Which he shouldn’t, and he doesn’t really feel for us.”
Carrick revealed that first team coach Jonny Evans has worked with Fernandes and Casemiro on set pieces.
Casemiro converted Fernandes’ first-half corner for the fifth goal that combination has produced this season and the Brazilian’s six goals are the most from dead-ball kicks.
Carrick added: “He (Fernandes)’s done it for a long period of time now in the big moments and making the difference.
“And whether he’s scoring or creating he’s normally around it.
“Two very different goals. Obviously today, I think he’s got a really good understanding of Case and working with Johnny on the set plays and different things and spaces and what not.
“And there’s also the bit you can coach in them. There’s a little bit of the plays and understanding that they’ve got a great connection there with that.
“And they’ve done it a few times before, so that was good. And then obviously the pass (for Cunha), getting in positions where you can play that final pass and it was one we’ve seen before.
“And then he plays Ben (Sesko) in as well after that.
“There’s not a lot else to say that I’ve sat here and said before about Bruno, but I thought he was really good.”
