Michael Carrick has brushed off suggestions that he has just two games left to save his job as Manchester United head coach as he prepares his underperforming side for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash against AS Roma.
Carrick’s position at Old Trafford has grown increasingly precarious following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, which extended United’s winless run across all competitions to nine matches—their longest streak without a victory since 1984.
Asked at his pre-match press conference on Monday whether he felt he had only two matches remaining at the helm, against Roma in Europe and Aston Villa in the Premier League—the 45-year-old manager dismissed the speculation. The upcoming Villa fixture falls directly before the international break, potentially providing the United hierarchy with a window to make a managerial change.
“No, not at all,” said Carrick, who is in his first full season in charge. “If you look into the future, you never know what’s going to happen.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen. That doesn’t change the way I feel, how we’re preparing for the game tomorrow.
“I’m actually really looking forward to the game, can’t wait for the game tomorrow. You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but I genuinely can’t wait.”
Carrick also maintained that he has “no concerns” regarding the commitment of defender Lisandro Martínez, who received a red card during Saturday’s defeat at Stamford Bridge after previously expressing frustration over squad investment.
“Things happen in football, sometimes you do things, sometimes you make decisions, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but the commitment is not an issue for sure,” Carrick added.
Despite the club’s dismal start to the campaign, Carrick insisted the atmosphere within the squad remains solid.
“Perception is a funny thing. You can make things look all sorts of different ways and think about all sorts of different things,” he said. “I’ve said it before, the commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, I don’t question that at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but commitment is not a thing at all.”
Manchester United currently sit in 17th place in the Premier League table—just one spot above the relegation zone, having managed only seven points from their opening nine matches. In Europe, the Red Devils occupy 20th position in the Champions League group phase following a 4-1 defeat to Como, leaving their qualification hopes in balance.
Appearing alongside Carrick at the press conference, 21-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo expressed confidence that the team could spark a turnaround.
“We’ve not had the results we’ve wanted,” Mainoo said. “But we need to look forward now. There’s big, big games ahead and I feel like we’re one win away from changing that.”
Carrick has fond memories of facing Roma, having scored twice during Sir Alex Ferguson’s side’s famous 7-1 Champions League quarter-final second-leg victory over the Italian club in 2007.
“It was a magical night, I have to say,” Carrick recalled. “It was one of the best nights, one of the best games, one of the best atmospheres I’ve been fortunate enough to witness.
“The fact that I scored a couple and that was very unusual gives me great memories, but it was more the emotion of the night. I have to say, it was a special one.”
