Michael Carrick spoke for six minutes at the start of Friday’s press conference, outlining the need for Manchester United to regain certain values he says are the club’s foundation.
Carrick’s side head into Sunday’s game against Bournemouth mired in their worst league start for 40 years and on the back of a woeful 4-1 drubbing at Como on Wednesday night.
The former United midfielder gave a passionate speech in front of the assembled media, and before any questions were asked, demanding a change of approach from everyone at the club.
He said: “I’ll start today. I just want to say a few things, really.
“Recently, we haven’t had a good time. I think that’s pretty obvious. So I totally accept what we’re going through at the moment.
“We had five months of relative success in a spell where I was happy with a lot of things I was seeing and that we were doing as a team. We haven’t done well enough lately. We’ve had a spell that we’re really not happy with.
“Wednesday was a bad night. It was a bad night for a lot of reasons. It hurt a lot. It obviously hurt me to see us play that way, to see how the game panned out. As I said after the game, it was really unacceptable.
“The supporters are a huge part of this football club. They have to make the effort and the time and money they spend, to feel how we all felt on Wednesday was a tough moment.”
We need to find Manchester United’s famous resilience – Carrick
Carrick cited the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby, Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in demonstrating the kind of player that has made United one of the biggest clubs in the world. And he says they now have to tap into those values.
“The foundations of this football club and values have been etched down for many years,” he added.
“I totally understand and I get every single one of them. It comes down to being humble, to hard work and being really proud to live up to those values.
“There is a resilience about this football club that has been shown for a long, long time. Whether that’s bouncing back from adversity, comebacks, late goals, sustaining success, there is a resilience to this football club that runs very, very deep.”
He added: “Manchester United always has been, and always will be, bigger than any single individual.
“Bigger than me, any of the players, it always has been. I’m fortune enough to know some players myself and played with some, Ryan Giggs is arguably one of the greatest to play for this football club. It was never about Ryan Giggs, it was about Manchester United.
“Wayne Rooney is top goalscorer of this football club. His biggest thing was playing for the team, sacrificing for the team and what was good for Manchester United.
“Sir Alex Ferguson is the best manager of all-time. The greatest, for me. And working for him, his main priority was Manchester United. Going back to Sir Matt, Sir Bobby, the resilience was beyond belief in what they showed and the way they rebuilt this football club.
“Again it was based on being humble, having humility and hard work. We can never lose that and I won’t let us lose that.”
We’ve had conversations – United boss Carrick
Speculation about Carrick’s future has ramped up following the performance at Como with the likes of Fabian Hurzeler, Unai Emery, Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe linked with the post.
Brighton boss Hurzeler today distanced himself from the discussion while Conte also denied suggestions he has held talks with the Old Trafford heirarchy.
Carrick admitted there had been conversations internally and confirmed a reaction was now required, starting on Sunday.
He said: “We’ve spoken. There are always conversations going on. It’s pretty obvious how we’re all feeling. A reaction, a reaction from me.
“The responsibility for me in this position is to lead. It is my responsibility, whatever goes on the pitch and what we look like, what we feel like.
“I’ll hold that umbrella for me to get wet so everyone else can stay dry. That’s the position I’m in and it’s a privileged position.
“Discussions are going on, getting the players in a good frame of mind and well organised to put in a good performance on Sunday. 100% I can turn it round.”
Carrick dodges Fernandes captaincy question
Bruno Fernandes did little to aid Carrick on Wednesday night, blaming the United boss’ tactics for the defeat at Como. The Portugal midfielder is the second player to voice his opinion in recent weeks following Lisandro Martinez’s criticism of the club’s transfer window.
Martinez apologised but Carrick was not willing to speculate on whether Fernandes would have to do the same, or whether he would keep the captain’s armband at the weekend.
He said: “The most important thing is the team. I will always do what is best for the club. Whatever the situation is, I will always do what is best for the club.”
He also dismissed reports the dressing room was divided. “It’s not divided, no,” he said. “We just need to get back to doing what we do best and we will.”
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