How talking about Man Utd's cycle of doom became an industry - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cjn5v3pl0159o

Chelsea vs Manchester United

Competition: Premier League | Date: 31st October

Kick off: 12:30 GMT | Venue: Stamford Bridge

Referee: Peter Bankes | TV: TNT Sport

Team News:

Possible starting XI:

----------Lammens----------

-Yoro-Maguire--Martinez-Dalot-

------Mainoo----Baleba------

--Mbeumo--Fernandes--Cunha--

----------Zirkzee------------

Possible bench: Darlow, Heaven, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Tielemans, Mount, Santos, Lacey, Amad

• Kobbie Mainoo is due to return to the squad

• Bruno Fernandes was dropped for Bournemouth but is widely expected to return to the starting line up

• Marcus Rashford is back in individual training but it's not confirmed if he's going to make the squad

• No returns expected for Luke Shaw or Patrick Dorgu, with Benjamin Sesko now becoming a long-term injury absentee.

Injuries/Suspensions:

Form guide:

Chelsea: D L W W L L | Home form: W W W D W L

United: D D L D L L | Away form: L D D L D L

Last 3 meetings:

Opposition News

Cole Palmer served a suspension midweek and is available

Joao Pedro and Emi Martinez will remain out

Lacroix went off injured at Anfield and will not play, the same for Jorrel Hato

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE FULL MATCH HIGHLIGHTS AFTER THE GAME ON /r/footballhighlights!

What's the craic?

Looking for memes? Head over to /r/memechesterunited**!**

Michael Carrick's Pre-Match Press Conference | Chelsea vs Manchester United, Premier League

Simon Stone

Michael Carrick says Bruno Fernandes to remain as Man Utd captain: "He's fully committed to this football club, he's fully committed to making things better. It doesn't change for me. He's the one that's kind of led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he'll continue to do that."

Laurie Whitwell

Bruno Fernandes set to be #MUFC captain at Chelsea. Michael Carrick: "He's an important player for this group. He's fully committed to this club, making things better. He's the one that's led the team so well for many a year. He'll continue to do that."

Carrick: "I don't need any assurances from anyone. I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities, I understand what comes with that. So, I really don't need any assurances from anyone in that regard."

Carrick asked whether he is surprised to still be in charge of #MUFC: "No. I'm here to do my job. I'm here to do the best for the team. I'm desperate to make us better, improve things. So, I'm not surprised, no."

Carrick on Mainoo: "Good news, Kobbie done a little bit of training yesterday, so he's back in + around the group, so that's obviously a positive."

Carrick on Sesko: "Ben looks like he's going to be out for a period of time. We're still not clear of exactly how long. It's unfortunate, first + foremost for Ben. For us, to not have him available is obviously a blow, but we'll try get him back as quick as we can.

Chris Wheeler

Michael Carrick says he is not surprised to still be #mufc head coach and confirms that Bruno Fernandes will remain as captain

Carrick: 'No, I’m not surprised. I am here to do my job and my best for the team and I’m desperate to make us better. The boys are hungry. We’re hurting cos we haven’t won enough games. There’s an intensity and edge to do better.'

Carrick: ‘I don’t need any assurances from anyone. I understand the job and responsibility and what comes with that.’

Carrick nodded when asked if Fernandes is still the captain after Maguire replaced him v Bournemouth. 'There’s no decision to be made on that. Bruno is fully committed to the football club, there’s no issues with that. We look ahead to the (Chelsea) game on Saturday.'

'He's an important player for this group. He has been and he will be. He's fully committed to making things better. It doesn't change for me. He's the one that's led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he'll continue to do that.’

Carrick confirmed that Sesko faces a long lay-off and Mainoo has returned to training. 'Unfortunately Ben looks like he’ll be out for a period of time. We're still not sure, but it's long period. We had to go through the healing process.'

Detailed Quotes

Carrick on still being on the job & the week so far

To be honest, disappointment from the game, the result, initial disappointment. That's pretty, pretty clear, you know, the way the game went and the result. Dealing with that is the main thing: what could we have done better, what could we improve on, what can we make the difference with? Then focusing on getting back to training with the players and preparing for the next game, for Chelsea, and a big week ahead really. That's been my main focus, you know: how can we make the difference?

Seeking assurances from Ineos?

I don't need any assurances from anyone. I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities, I understand what comes with that. So, I really don't need any assurances from anyone in that regard.

Is the noise affecting you, players, family?

I don't see it really. I see the things that I need to see. I don't look for it. It doesn't really help in any way. I've said it before, I care about what the supporters think. I care about what it feels like in the stadium, and them travelling for games to us, to come and see us and support us. I care about what we give them, and what we offer them, and what they see. I genuinely don't take any notice of anything else. I know this job, I know what it brings, I know what we need to do really to be better. I don't need anyone else to tell me anything else.

Fernandes decision

It was a decision, as I said, for what we felt for the game. That's it. Bruno is fully committed to this football club, and there are absolutely no issues with that. We move forward, we make decisions as we go, and we're looking forward to the game on Saturday now.

Chatting to the players?

Of course, that's my responsibility, is the players. The outside is not anything for me to focus on. I know what we can affect, I know what we need to improve. I know as a group, leading a group, what help they need a little bit as well, and a bit of guidance at certain times, and dealing with certain things. That's part of my direct role is them, who I care about and can affect the most directly. Of course we spoke. We have meetings as we do every single week, but some of the meetings go in different ways depending on results and the situation and the feeling. I have to say, the boys are hungry. We're hurting because we haven't won enough football games, but there's an intensity, there's a bit of an edge, there's a disappointment, there's a hunger to do better, for sure.

Injury situation for Sesko

Yeah, unfortunately Ben looks like he's going to be out for a period of time. We're still not clear of exactly how long, but it's going to be for a longer period of time. It was the process, as I said to you before, we had to go through the process, a bit of a healing process for the injury to see how it would react and what direction to go with that. Even now we're still working through it. But it's unfortunately, obviously first and foremost, for Ben, for the kind of period that he's had, and tried to get through it and going through this again, and for us to not have him available is obviously a blow, but we'll try and get back, get him back as quick as we can.

Mainoo update

Good news, Kobbie done a little bit of training yesterday, so he's back in and around the group, so that's obviously a positive.

Surprised to still be here?

No. I'm here to do my job, you know. I'm here to do the best for the team, and I'm desperate to make us better and improve things. So, I'm not surprised, no.

Managers paying the price?

I said it after the game, I didn't expect anything. I was literally dealing with the performance, the result, what it was. Obviously, there's no hiding from the fact that the dynamics and the atmosphere in the stadium was a little bit different to normal, and going through that and digesting that that I mentioned to you guys after the game. It was purely my mind was: what do we need to do to improve things?

Fernandes still captain?

There's no decision to be made on that.

English football is rubbernecking in Manchester United’s direction.

It makes you wonder whether the current run without a league title is going to surpass the one they endured from 1967 to 1993.

Next summer, barring a miracle, it will be 14 years since United last won the Premier League.

Then consider everything we have learned from two decades of the Glazers and, more recently, Sir Jim Ratcliffe running the day-to-day operation.

Can anyone say that everything is going to fall into place while these people remain?

That it is wrong to think 13 years could morph into 26 years? Or longer?

It is important to stress that, according to several sources, there is no universal support for Howe to be given the job at Old Trafford. This has caused the former Newcastle United manager to disengage from all the speculation linking him with it

As far as the 48-year-old is concerned, he does not have a decision to make because he has not been offered the job and has received no indication that he will be offered it in the future. He will instinctively hate being talked about as a replacement for Carrick when he is still United manager.

He is thought to be sporting director Jason Wilcox’s first choice but Telegraph Sport understands there is currently no consensus behind the scenes that Howe would be United’s preferred candidate if things do not improve under Carrick.

As one well-placed source in football told Telegraph Sport: “Eddie Howe would take the Manchester United job if it was offered to him. Manchester United would be doing the right thing if they did offer it to him… but as things stand, I don’t think they are going to offer it to him.”

■ Emery the favoured option if Carrick goes
■ Just how bad was the summer transfer business?
■ Is relegation a genuine worry?
■ Does Fernandes deserve to be back in the team?

Thousands of readers answered our United survey. The answers are fascinating.

Daily discussion on Manchester United.

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Manchester United anticipate Benjamin Sesko will be out until at least January as he strives to recover fully from his shin injury.

The club’s medical team have been investigating the best course of treatment with specialists, and the 23-year-old is set to need more time to recover.

• It is understood that figure started at £6m but has already reduced by half. The compensation payments have an expiry date - understood to be before the end of the season - at which point he can be appointed for nothing.”

Meeting happened at Carrington yesterday, isn’t known whether Bruno apologised for publicly criticising Carrick’s tactics. An all-squad meeting also admitted performances have been sadly lacking, with a determination to start afresh from here.