Manchester United coach, Michael Carrick
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick will be under intense pressure when his side hosts Roma in a crucial UEFA Champions League clash at Old Trafford on Tuesday, with growing speculation over his future after a poor run of results.
United have failed to win any of their last nine matches in all competitions, leaving them 17th in the Premier League and 21st in the Champions League standings after three games.
With only the top 24 teams progressing, the Roma fixture is seen as a defining moment for both the club’s European campaign and Carrick’s future.
Despite the pressure, Carrick said he is excited about the challenge.
“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,” he said.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
Carrick admitted he cannot predict what lies ahead but insisted his focus remains on helping United produce a big performance.
“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,” he said.
The United boss also defended Lisandro Martinez after the defender’s recent red card, saying mistakes are part of football.
“Things happen in football,” he said.
“Sometimes you do things; you make a decision, you make mistakes. Sometimes it goes well for you.”
Carrick also dismissed suggestions that his players have lost commitment.
“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.”
