Michael Carrick calls speculation over Manchester United future 'ridiculous'

Michael Carrick called questions about his Manchester United future "ridiculous" ahead of his side's trip to Fulham on Sunday, insisting he is focused on turning the club's fortunes around rather than worrying about his position.

United arrive at Fulham after a difficult week that included a defeat to Manchester City followed by a Carabao Cup exit to Brighton & Hove Albion, a tie in which they surrendered a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford and subsequently faced boos and chants from supporters.

Addressing the speculation, Carrick said: "I know the club, I know the role, I know what's expected here in terms of playing to a certain standard and achieving certain things on the pitch. I get all that. In terms of future and ownership and how long I've got in the job, that's totally not in my thinking. It's ridiculous to think that way in the position I'm in. That's just not on the radar." He added that recent results would not alter his focus on improving performances.

Carrick accepted responsibility for the club's poor start, saying: "It's not a blame game. Blame me, no problem. I will take the responsibility," and stressing that the priority was collective solutions rather than assigning fault: "But it's not about blaming people. It's about us, it's about us finding solutions and being better. That's as a whole football club."

Statistically, United have recorded only two wins from their opening six matches in all competitions, with victories coming against newly promoted Ipswich Town and Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK in the Champions League. Club officials have given no indication that Carrick's position is under immediate threat, with attention instead on why many players have failed to reproduce the form that helped United win 12 of their final 17 games last season.

On the scale of pressure at Old Trafford, Carrick said: "It's not a catastrophe or a disaster. It's not the end of the world. There's great feelings, and there's obviously disappointments, and sometimes the smaller disappointments lead to being a little bit bigger. It's just part of coping and being at this great football club." He added: "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else, genuinely. It's the best place for me to be, in part because of the times when it's maybe not going to plan. Sometimes they are best times to work your way through, to find out a few things and come out an awful lot stronger."

When asked about wider questions over recruitment, the club's finances, his relative lack of managerial experience and the composition of his coaching staff, Carrick said those matters would not distract from immediate priorities and stated plainly: "We've got to perform and we've got a lot of games to plan for."

Carrick also provided a squad update ahead of the Fulham trip, revealing that Luke Shaw and new signing Carlos Baleba have a chance of being fit for the match, with a late decision to be taken on their availability. United travel to Fulham on Sunday, when those availability decisions will be confirmed.