Manchester United manager Michael Carrick remains optimistic about the upcoming match against AS Roma, brushing off speculation about his job security. Despite a nine-game winless streak in official matches, Carrick emphasized his trust in the squad and his determination to turn things around.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday ahead of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) clash with Roma, Carrick stated that the future is uncertain, but his job status doesn’t affect how he prepares for games or his overall mindset.
Manchester United is set to face AS Roma in their fourth UCL group stage match at Old Trafford on November 4 at 5:00 a.m. KST.
Despite a disappointing run of one win and two losses in the group stage, Carrick expressed enthusiasm: It’s genuinely looking forward to this match. Given the recent results and current situation, that might sound crazy, but it’s truly excited about this game.
United’s struggles continued with a 2-0 loss to Chelsea in the Premier League on November 1, extending their winless run to nine games. This marks the club’s longest winless streak since 1984.
The Red Devils’ poor start to the season has left them with just one win in nine Premier League matches, languishing in 17th place. Their UCL campaign has been equally challenging, including a 4-1 thrashing at Como last month, leaving them 20th in the group standings. With only the top 24 teams advancing to the knockout stage, a turnaround is crucial.
Carrick insists there are no issues within the squad.
Addressing defender Lisandro Martinez’s red card against Chelsea, Carrick said that football is unpredictable. Players make decisions, sometimes mistakes, and things can go well too. He continued to show support for his players.
The players’ commitment isn’t the problem, Carrick added. It clearly needs to improve the performance, but it has no doubt about the players’ dedication to each other and the team.
Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, who joined Carrick at the press conference, also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to bounce back.
Mainoo stated that while it hasn’t achieved the results it wanted, it needs to focus on what’s ahead. It has crucial matches coming up, and it believes just one win could be the catalyst for turning the season around.