Michael Carrick says he doesn’t fear getting the sack as Manchester United boss as the scrutiny of his position increases.
The Red Devils are on a seven-match winless run in all competitions following Wednesday’s humbling 4-1 defeat to Como in the UEFA Champions League.
It is reported that United are considering a number of managers to replace the beleaguered Englishman, including Julian Nagelsmann, Unai Emery, Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe.
But Carrick was defiant in his pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s encounter with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, delivering a six-minute speech in which he addressed the team’s struggles before fielding questions from reporters.
The 45-year-old went on to say that unity and team spirit will be vital to turning around United’s fortunes, something he insists he can do.
Michael Carrick does not ‘fear’ Manchester United sack
“I certainly don’t fear it,” said Carrick when asked about the possibility of losing his job. “I understand what we can achieve. I know what it needs to look like for us to be winning enough football games to get us through that spell.
“Principles and values are so important to the football club, definitely to me. We can win games, we can lose games, hopefully not but at some point we are going to. It is how you do it and what it feels like that is important.
“That spirit and that unity and that togetherness needs to be there. It is there, and it will be there. I will make sure it is there anyway. I am looking for the solutions to move forward.”
Carrick revealed he has spoken with the club’s hierarchy, though did not go into details about what was said.
“We’ve spoken. There are always conversations. It is pretty obvious how we are all feeling,” he said.
“The responsibility for me to be in this position is to lead: what we look like on the pitch.
“I will hold that umbrella for me to get wet and everyone else to stay dry. That is the privielged position I am in.
“Tough discussions going on to get the players organised to put in a good performance on Sunday.”
Carrick added that he believes United will turn a corner and improve on the pitch.
“It hurts an awful lot but it doesn’t stop me. That hurt is used as pure motivation and inspiration to want more and work for more and to get us going in that different direction.
“It feels like it can be a long way away but it doesn’t take too much to flip the other way and we are more capable of doing that. We will. We will win football matches.”
Read – Every word from Michael Carrick’s six-minute speech
Read More – Unai Emery ‘leading candidate’ for Man Utd if Carrick decision made
See Also – Five of the best Premier League away kits in 2026/27