By TheDailyNewsHub Reporter
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has insisted he can reverse the club’s poor run of results, accepting responsibility for the team’s performances as pressure mounts ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash with Bournemouth.
Carrick made the declaration on Friday, October 23, after United suffered a 4-1 defeat to Champions League debutants Como in Italy on Wednesday. The result extended the club’s winless run to seven matches across all competitions and intensified questions about the manager’s future.
“We’ve kind of lost our way a little bit, if I’m totally honest, and we’ll get it back. I’m totally confident we’ll get it back,” Carrick said during his pre-match press conference.
The former England midfielder acknowledged that United had fallen below expectations and said the team needed to demonstrate greater commitment, resilience and respect for the demands of representing one of English football’s most successful clubs.
He described the defeat to Como as unacceptable and said he understood the disappointment of supporters who had travelled to watch the team play.
Carrick also accepted responsibility for the results, stressing that his role was to ensure the team performed in a manner that supporters could identify with and take pride in.
“My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, represents the supporters and they can be proud of it with the identity that we show,” he said.
United’s recent struggles have placed Carrick under growing scrutiny. The team sit 13th in the Premier League table with seven points, while their European campaign has also been disrupted by inconsistent performances.
The club have been eliminated from the League Cup by Brighton and have lost two of their opening three Champions League matches. Their defeat in Como was particularly damaging, leaving them 20th in the Champions League standings with three points at the time of reporting.
Carrick had enjoyed a successful spell after taking charge in January 2026 following the departure of Ruben Amorim. He guided United to a third-place finish in the Premier League last season, securing qualification for the Champions League, before being appointed permanently.
However, the team’s current form has raised fresh doubts about whether he can reproduce that progress.
Tensions have also emerged publicly following the Como defeat, with captain Bruno Fernandes questioning aspects of the team’s tactical approach. Carrick declined to confirm whether the Portuguese midfielder would retain the captaincy, saying his priority was the interests of the team and the wider club.
“The most important thing for me is the team, first and foremost, is the squad, is the dynamics in the squad,” Carrick said.
He rejected suggestions that criticism from players indicated a split within the dressing room, maintaining that restoring the team’s collective identity remained his immediate priority.
United’s next test comes against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, October 25. The match offers Carrick an opportunity to respond on the pitch, although another disappointing result would likely intensify scrutiny of his position.
Speculation over potential replacements has continued, with former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte among the names linked with the job. Conte, however, said he was not in advanced negotiations with any club and would take time to consider his next managerial appointment.
For Carrick, the immediate challenge is to translate his confidence into improved performances and results. With supporters demanding a response after a difficult run, United will need greater consistency and organisation if they are to revive their season.