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Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is ‘begging’ coaches to play against Burnley after returning to training on grass, according to an inside source at Carrington.
Chaos at Old Trafford
Old Trafford is in a state of shock after INEOS sacked Ruben Amorim this morning following an explosive clash with the executive.
The Portuguese coach gave a fiery post-match interview following the 1-1 draw against Leeds United, accusing other factions within the club of not doing their jobs properly.
He repeatedly referred to himself as United’s ‘manager’, objecting to being described as a coach – despite his role being clearly defined as ‘head coach’.
It was no surprise then that INEOS decided to pull the trigger on a manager – or head coach – with more losses than wins since joining from Sporting CP in November 2024, as it was their support that had kept him in place, and not his performances.
Under-18 coach Darren Fletcher has taken over temporarily, with the club considering options to become permanent caretaker until the end of the season. Former Red Devil, both as a player and coach, Michael Carrick is considered the “front runner” for this role.
But it is Fletcher who will lead the team for the trip to Turf Moor on Wednesday evening, with United having the chance to move into the top four with a win.
The leader on the field
The 41-year-old Scot will be desperate to include Fernandes, club captain and the team’s most influential player, in his traveling squad.
Bruno Fernandes stats: 2025/26 season
| Competition | Performances | Goals | Assists | Yellow cards | Red cards | Minutes played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 17 | 5 | 7 | 2 | – | 1,477′ |
| EFL Cup | 1 | – | – | – | – | 45′ |
| Total | 18 | 5 | 7 | 2 | – | 1,522′ |
The Portugal international is out with a hamstring injury after being forced off the pitch against Aston Villa before Christmas.
United’s performances and results have suffered severely in his absence. It is no exaggeration to say that Amorim would still be playing at Old Trafford had the 31-year-old midfielder been available in recent weeks.
A well placed source for training ground information reveals Fernandes has now “returned to grass training on Wednesday evening and is pushing to play”. This would mean a return far ahead of the normal schedule for a hamstring injury, but the talismanic captain’s body is far from normal.
It is believed Fernandes is “begging” the coaching staff to “let him play” – but the final decision will rest with Fletcher and the club’s medical department, no matter how much he wants to be let go against Burnley.
Featured image Alex Pantling via Getty Images
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