Michael Carrick says he can get Manchester United back on track after Como loss
Michael Carrick told Manchester United supporters he believes he can return the club to form after Wednesday’s 4-1 defeat at Como, remarks he made during a pre-match news conference ahead of the trip to AFC Bournemouth this weekend.
Carrick spoke while under pressure following a seven-game winless run that has left him facing calls for dismissal and a club struggling in the early part of the season. Wednesday’s result prompted many to argue he should be sacked, yet he has so far retained his position. He has not won since the victory over Azerbaijani champions Sabah in early September, a sequence that has intensified scrutiny around his tenure.
At his pre-Bournemouth news conference Carrick delivered an emotional, off-the-cuff address in which he declared himself defiant and acknowledged the difficult spell the team is experiencing. He spent six minutes addressing the situation, urging both players and fans to adopt modesty and patience as the club seeks to recover. During the session he vowed to reconnect the team with its origins and accepted responsibility for producing a reaction.
Carrick said: “I’ll start today. Just want to say a few things, really. I think it’s important. I think recently we haven’t had a good time. I think that’s pretty obvious, so I totally accept that, what we’re going through at the moment.”
He added: “What happened on Wednesday night is unacceptable. Manchester United will always be bigger than any individual, bigger than me, bigger than the players…” and asked rhetorically: “Am I the right man for the job? 100%. The dressing room is not divided. We have spoken with the club, always conversations going on. A reaction is needed from me. Our responsibility is to lead.”
Carrick continued with further pledges about his role and the club’s standards, saying: “I will hold that umbrella for me to get wet, and everyone stays dry.” He also expressed confidence in a turnaround: “I am confident we will be back. We’ll get back to the level we show in the first 5 months. It comes down to being humble and hard-working every day.”
Referencing the club’s past, Carrick said: “This club will always be bigger than any individuals, me or the players. Sir Alex Ferguson the greatest of all time for me, his priority was Man United. Sir Matt Busby and the resilience they showed was beyond belief. You can’t lose that and I won’t let us lose it.”
Insiders at the club say it is business as usual for the time being and Carrick will remain in the dugout for the weekend trip to high-flying AFC Bournemouth; Manchester United sit 13th in the Premier League table.