Michael Carrick has played down concerns over his position as Manchester United manager after the club suffered a dramatic 3 2 defeat to Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
United appeared to be in control after taking a two goal lead, but Brighton fought back to complete a remarkable comeback at Old Trafford. The defeat came just days after United had lost 1 0 at home to Manchester City, leaving Carrick under increased scrutiny.
The latest setback also made United the first team in 50 years to lose at Old Trafford after leading by two goals. Supporters responded with boos and chants at the final whistle, adding to the pressure on the manager.
United have now won just two of their first six matches in all competitions, a run that has raised questions about the team’s progress under Carrick during his first full season as permanent manager.
However, Carrick insisted that fears over his future are not influencing his thinking.
“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,” Carrick said.
The former United midfielder admitted that the recent results were disappointing but urged everyone at the club to remain focused rather than allow the defeats to create panic.
“It’s two or three games. It’s two or three games too many because I really hate losing, but that doesn’t mean the world caves in,” he said.
Carrick also accepted responsibility for the team’s struggles while making it clear that he did not want the focus to turn into a blame game.
“Blame me. No problem. I will take the responsibility,” he said. “But it’s not about blaming people. It’s about us finding solutions and being better. And that’s as a whole football club.”
The pressure comes despite the strong finish United enjoyed last season. Carrick guided the team to 12 wins from their final 17 matches and secured Champions League qualification, creating optimism heading into the new campaign.
That momentum, however, has yet to carry into the early stages of the new season. United have beaten newly promoted Ipswich and Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK, but defeats against Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton have left the team facing renewed criticism.
Carrick remains adamant that he wants to continue working at Old Trafford and has no intention of looking elsewhere.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, genuinely,” he said. “It’s the best place for me to be, in part because of the times when it’s maybe not going to plan.”
United now turn their attention to Sunday’s Premier League trip to Fulham, where Carrick and his players will be under pressure to produce a response and ease some of the concerns surrounding the team.
