Man United crumbled as they lost to Chelsea on Saturday but Bruno Fernandes provided a glimmer of hope for the Reds

Bruno Fernandes was the focus of the pre-match talk this week. The Manchester United captain was petulant following the defeat to Como and Michael Carrick needed to make a point.

His comments came from a place of love and care for United. However, they were greeted poorly and he needed to be punished. Not starting him, or bringing him on, during the defeat to Bournemouth was a sign of Carrick laying down the law. But the United boss was right to draw a line under it on Tuesday, following clear-the-air talks at Carrington.

Having dodged questions about stripping Fernandes of the captaincy the week prior, Carrick was keen to ensure the attacking midfielder was still appreciated during Thursday's press conference. This continued in his pre-match comments at Stamford Bridge. "He's a big player, Bruno, he offers us so much, you know, with his experience," Carrick told MUTV.

"He's been through a lot here and achieved a lot and shown what he can bring to the team. So he's an important part of the team for us and I think we've got a good balance today. We've got a good team and the boys are looking forward to it."

Although it will have been a blow to Fernandes' ego to be dropped vs Bournemouth, that time on the bench could have done him the world of good. The skipper looked a little closer to his old self in the first half against Chelsea.

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In the early stages, you could see the player who has been so critical for United for so many years. He was dogged defensively, chasing back, winning the ball and doing the dirty work for his teammates.

Going forward, he was even better. He should have scored when Bryan Mbeumo played a sensational cross-field pass to him on the counter. Mbeumo then returned the favour as he failed to read Fernandes' brilliant cross for what would have been an easy tap-in.

Fernandes was doing something he has not done for a while in that he was influencing the game - at least in the first half. This version of Fernandes is undroppable, not the one who looks for excuses.

Even after the poor start to the second half, it was Fernandes who nearly dragged United into it again with a brilliant free-kick delivery that Matheus Cunha could not divert goalwards.

Chances for Fernandes to turn the game in United's favour were limited after Lisandro Martinez's foolish sending off. But his display was the kind of senior performance that is expected of a captain.

On the Manchester is Red podcast this week, we spoke about the need for Fernandes to do his apologising on the pitch. He did just that on Saturday, even if the result went against the Reds.

If Carrick is to save his job then he needs Fernandes to be back to his best. Saturday was a step in the right direction.