Michael Carrick says he cannot wait for Manchester United’s Champions League game against Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday, even though his side go into it without a win in nine matches in all competitions. Carrick, who signed a two-year contract in the summer, admits that the mood around the club might make his stance sound strange.
“You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but genuinely, I really can’t wait for the game,” said Carrick. “I’m really looking forward to it.
“Listen, I can’t look into the future, you never know what’s going to happen. That doesn’t change the way I feel. Whatever happens is going to happen in whatever direction it goes in, but we want to make it a big night tomorrow.”
A bleak run of form
United’s run is their worst since 1988-89. They have not gone 10 games without a win in a single campaign since 1977-78, and there is a growing feeling that Carrick could lose his job during the forthcoming international break.
The club sit 17th in the Premier League. After defeats by Atletico Madrid and Como, they have slumped to 21st in the Champions League table after three games, with only the top 24 progressing. Roma’s only defeat so far this season came at home to Real Madrid last month, when they led 3-1 with seven minutes left.
Carrick sees a chance to change the story
Rather than dwell on the pressure, Carrick is treating the Roma game as an opportunity to change the narrative of the season. He watched over a lively, open pre-match training session at Carrington, where striker Bryan Mbeumo and midfielder Carlos Baleba were particularly vocal.
Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez was also fully engaged, despite the red card he received at Chelsea that triggered such a negative reaction. Although there have been calls for Martinez to be dropped for the Roma game, Carrick took a more philosophical view.
“Sometimes you do things; you make a decision, you make mistakes. Sometimes it goes well for you.”
He also rejected concerns about Martinez’s commitment and that of the wider squad. “Perceptions are a funny thing,” he said. “They can make things look all sorts of different ways. The dressing room is a good place.
“I’ve said it before, I don’t question the commitment of the players, to the club and to me and to each other. We need to play better. We can make better decisions. But commitment’s not a thing at all.”
Mainoo backs the group
England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo sat alongside Carrick at the media conference and also stressed the strength of the group. Mainoo returned from a four-match absence with a muscular issue as a second-half substitute at Chelsea.
At 21, Mainoo is one of the youngest players in the squad, but he joined the club as a seven-year-old, which makes him the longest-serving player there. “I’ve been at this club for a long time and know there’s always going to be ups and downs,” he said. “It’s never going to be plain sailing and smooth to the top. You expect bumps.
“Of course it’s been a tough season. We’ve not had the results we’ve wanted, but I feel like we’re one win away from changing that.”
Mainoo added that the current position is unacceptable for a club of United’s size. “United’s a huge club,” he said. “I think a lot of people know the values this club holds and have been passed down through the people who’ve worked here and played here.
“I feel like I take some responsibility in spreading the word of what Manchester United is, coming up through the academy, and I plan to send that message for as long as I can.”