📅 October 29, 2026
Carrick: “I Don’t Need Assurances”, Bruno Stays Captain, Sesko Out Long-Term
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Michael Carrick didn’t ask for anyone’s protection on Thursday. “I don’t need assurances from anyone,” he said at his press conference before Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, as Sky Sports and AFP both reported. He settled the Bruno Fernandes question in a sentence, confirmed Kobbie Mainoo is back, and gave the worst news of the day: Benjamin Sesko is out for a long time.
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“He’s the captain of our football club”
The armband isn’t in question. “There’s no decision to be made on that,” Carrick said, according to Sky. “He’s the captain of our football club.”
He stood by leaving Fernandes on the bench against Bournemouth. “It was a decision for the game. That’s it,” he said, and then closed the subject: “Bruno is fully committed to this football club. I’ve got no issues with that, we move forward.” AFP and Sky both carry that line.
Carrick also talked about the different ways people lead. “There are different personalities, different characteristics, different ways to lead,” he said, per Sky. “He cares deeply about this football club and the team and he’s desperate to do well. We’ll lead that together.” To AFP he described Fernandes as “the one that’s kind of led the team so well for many a game and many a year.”
That fits what happened on Tuesday, when the two cleared the air at Carrington. Harry Maguire wore the armband against Bournemouth. On Thursday’s evidence, Fernandes gets it back at Stamford Bridge.
“I don’t need assurances from anyone”
The owners still haven’t said a word in public, and Carrick says he doesn’t need them to. “I totally get the position, I get the job, the responsibility, I get what comes with that,” he said, per Sky and AFP. “I really don’t need any assurances from anyone in that regard.”
Asked whether he was surprised to still be in the job, he said: “I’m not surprised, no.” On the noise around him, he told Sky: “I don’t look for it. It doesn’t help. I care about what the supporters think. I genuinely don’t take any notice of anything else.”
And on the dressing room, he told AFP: “The boys are hungry.” Then: “We’re hurting because we haven’t won enough football games.”
Team news: Mainoo back, Sesko out
Kobbie Mainoo: “Kobbie has done a little bit of training yesterday,” Carrick said, as Hayters reported. “So, he’s back and around the group, so that’s obviously positive.” The club’s own channels showed him training on Wednesday after missing four games. Whether he’s fit enough to be involved at Chelsea wasn’t spelled out.
Benjamin Sesko: the shin problem is back. “Unfortunately, Ben looks like he’s going to be out for a period of time,” Carrick said, per Hayters. “We’re still not clear on exactly how long but it’s going to be a longer period of time.” He called it “obviously a blow.” The Independent and Stretty News both report Sesko is expected to be out until at least January. Carrick himself didn’t give a date.
There was no update in the coverage we’ve seen on Marcus Rashford’s hip, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu or Manuel Ugarte. We’ll go with the official team sheet on Saturday.
Our view
This was the strongest Carrick has looked all week. No pleading for backing, no hedging on the captain, no excuses. He was asked about his own future and gave the answer the owners should have given on Tuesday.
Losing Sesko until the new year hurts, and with Rashford still a doubt the forward line is thin. But Mainoo back in training and Fernandes back in the side gives the midfield two of its most important players again. That’s what Carrick takes to Chelsea, fifth in the table, on Saturday.
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Sources: Carrick’s quotes on Fernandes, the captaincy, assurances, being surprised and the supporters from Sky Sports (Peter Smith), 29 October; “I don’t need assurances”, “decision for the game”, “fully committed”, “led the team so well”, “the boys are hungry” and “we’re hurting” from AFP via Al Jazeera. The Mainoo and Sesko quotes from Hayters (Dan Bennett), the only full account of those answers we found, so they’re attributed. Sesko until at least January from the Independent and Stretty News (via LiveScore). Mainoo training on Wednesday from Manchester United’s official channels and Sports Mole. The Tuesday talks and Maguire’s armband from our earlier coverage. Chelsea fifth from ESPN’s Premier League standings, 27 October.