Michael Carrick confronts United’s crisis, vows to restore direction
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick broke his silence on Friday after the Red Devils’ 4‑1 Champions League loss to Como, acknowledging a seven‑match winless run and urging total commitment ahead of the Premier League clash with Bournemouth at home on 25 October.
The story, reported by Olé, notes that United's recent form has been poor. The Red Devils (Los Diablos Rojos) have gone seven games without a win and sit thirteenth in the Premier League. The slump follows a 4‑1 defeat to Italian side Como in the Champions League.
Press conference response
Carrick arrived at the press conference before any questions were taken. He delivered a roughly five‑minute address in which he accepted full responsibility for the run and demanded total commitment from his squad before the next fixture.
‘Lately we have not been good enough. We have gone through a period we are genuinely unhappy about. Wednesday was a bad night for many reasons and it hurt a lot,’ he said. He added that the performance in Italy was unacceptable and that the squad must improve immediately.
Club heritage invoked
He invoked the club’s heritage, naming Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Sir Alex Ferguson as benchmarks of selfless dedication. ‘Ryan Giggs, possibly one of the best players of this club, never thought about Ryan Giggs but about Manchester United,’ Carrick asserted. ‘Wayne Rooney is the club’s top scorer; the most important thing for him was to play for the team, sacrifice for the team and do the best for Manchester United.’
Drop for Bruno Fernandes during Champions League away trip to Italy
Carrick added that a glorious past does not guarantee future triumphs. ‘We have an incredible history, but that does not mean we have a right to win. I am fully aware of that. It takes a lot of work and sacrifice,’ he warned.
Internal dissent and captaincy
The press conference came amid growing unrest after Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned Carrick’s tactical set‑up, particularly the side’s pressing shape. When asked whether the Portuguese might lose the captaincy or be dropped for the upcoming game, Carrick declined to give a definitive answer, insisting the club’s interests come first. He also denied any division in the dressing room and said no private conversation had taken place.
He summed up his stance with a vivid analogy: ‘I will hold the umbrella so that I get wet while everyone else stays dry. That is the position I am in and it is a privilege.’
Bruno Fernandes' home robbed while United play in Italy
United travel to face Bournemouth at home on Sunday 25 October in the Premier League. The result could prove decisive for Carrick’s tenure at the helm.