Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has convened a meeting of players and staff at the club's Carrington training ground in an effort to settle tensions following a turbulent fortnight, according to The Athletic.

The gathering came after a bruising run of results that has left United with just two wins from 12 matches across all competitions this season. The club currently sit in the bottom five of the Premier League, are in danger of needing a Champions League play-off, and were eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Brighton despite taking the lead.

Summit described as productive

Sources cited by reporters Laurie Whitwell and Chris McKenna told The Athletic that the meeting — involving players and staff, but not directors — was designed to unite the squad around a common goal and address lingering grievances. The session was described as productive, though, as The Athletic noted, the real test will come on the pitch when United travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Saturday.

Central to the dressing-room tension has been the situation surrounding captain Bruno Fernandes, who was left out of the matchday squad entirely for Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat to Bournemouth. The omission followed sharp public criticism Fernandes directed at Carrick's tactics after United's Champions League loss to Como the previous week — comments that drew a hostile reaction from supporters at Old Trafford and sharp rebukes from a number of former players.

Fernandes decision looms

With the Bournemouth setback representing United's eighth consecutive match without a win since their Champions League victory over Sabah at Old Trafford in December, Carrick now faces a defining choice over his captain. Sources close to both men told The Athletic that they are expected to confront the issue directly, and the current indication is that a line will be drawn — meaning Fernandes could start at Stamford Bridge.

After Chelsea, United's schedule offers little respite. Before the end of November, they are due to face Roma, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Sporting CP, and Brentford — a fixture run that will go a long way to determining whether Carrick's position remains tenable. The club have yet to win a single away match this season.