Manchester United’s most famous eras were built around their academy products, so why not give the current crop a chance to shine?

Watching Manchester United succumb meekly against Como and Bournemouth brought to mind questions and comparisons with yesteryear. Two of United’s most famous eras were built around their youth players: the Busby Babes and the Class of ’92. Could this be a moment for Michael Carrick to give their most talented academy products a meaningful chance?

In February 2025 I saw United beat Arsenal 3-2 in the FA Youth Cup at the Emirates Stadium. Jack and Tyler Fletcher did well for United and so did Harry Amass, a signing from Watford. Max Dowman, a generational talent, starred for Arsenal.

Bruno Fernandes owes Manchester United a performance, Mathys Tel has arrived at Spurs and Liverpool are improving

• Premier League top scorers

Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks this week. Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth after criticising Carrick’s tactics during the Champions League defeat at Como but it seems the situation has been resolved – for now. Dropping Fernandes did not do United any good against Bournemouth, who ran riot at Old Trafford, and the captain is expected to return to the starting lineup for the trip to Chelsea. If that happens, he owes Carrick a performance. Fernandes has been poor this season and it is time he did his talking on the pitch. Jacob Steinberg

Chelsea v Manchester United, Saturday 12.30pm (all times GMT)

Manchester City v Brighton, Saturday 3pm

• Carrick says he is not surprised to still be head coach

• He describes Fernandes as ‘important’ for the squad

Michael Carrick has said he will not strip Bruno Fernandes of the Manchester United captaincy after dropping him for the defeat by Bournemouth and that he is not surprised to have kept his job as the head coach.

Carrick and Fernandes held talks this week after the Portuguese criticised the tactics in the loss to Como, resulting in the midfielder being an unused substitute on Sunday. Harry Maguire took the armband but will not retain it for Saturday’s game at Chelsea, with Carrick saying “there is no decision to be made” and praising Fernandes.

Even an elite coach would surely struggle at Old Trafford amid the executive chaos and with an unfit, uneven squad

In January 2014 the 13th series of Celebrity Big Brother aired in the UK, the show so popular that its run time was extended by five days before a public vote anointed Jim Davidson the winner. Then, two years later when Brexit happened, people wondered where their tolerant country had gone, lamenting the ephemeral spirit of London 2012 as though the 2011 riots were some kind of fever dream, not a desperate response to decades of structural and institutional racism exacerbated by the cruelty of unnecessary austerity.

The truth is that if security is quickly upended, it was built on quicksand to begin with. Which brings us to Manchester United, easing effortlessly from an uplifting third-place finish to some of the worst football in their history.

• Manchester United captain expected to return to lineup

• Squad have positive meeting with under-pressure coach

Michael Carrick and Bruno Fernandes held clear-the-air talks on Tuesday after the Manchester United captain criticised the manager’s tactics last week, with him now expected to start at Chelsea on Saturday.

Carrick and Fernandes met before training on Tuesday morning at United’s Carrington training base. The 32-year-old, it is understood, offered the manager assurances that he is fully committed and intent on trying to turn the team’s season around. There was also a squad meeting with Carrick at which the rest of the players made the same vow.