A Manchester United player said the squad want to “put it right” after the club decided to keep Michael Carrick as manager. United have gone eight matches in all competitions without a win and are due to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Player reaction
An unnamed Manchester United player told BBC Sport: “The feeling is that we all want to put it right. Players, staff, everyone.” BBC Sport added that it is not known if the “we” includes Fernandes, and that it has not been made aware of what, if any, conversations have taken place between the captain and his boss.
Results and league position
Manchester United lost 4-1 to Como in a Champions League clash in Italy and then lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth on Sunday. The Bournemouth defeat left Manchester United 16th in the Premier League, while they are already out of the Carabao Cup and 20th in the Champions League standings.
Carrick kept on by the club
It was revealed on Tuesday that Michael Carrick will be given extra time to prove himself. Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Man Utd decide not to take any official action with Michael Carrick. Man Utd decide to confirm the coach after very, very long days because Monday was a very long day at Man Utd, including also Sunday night.”
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “There were discussions Sunday night already after the terrible game against Bournemouth and then Monday spending basically the whole day in conversation with all the people at the club involved. Owner, CEO, director Jason Wilcox, all the people at the club, Carrick himself.”
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “There were conversations with the players as well. Monday, there was no training at Man Utd, but some players went to Carrington for treatment like, for example, the captain Bruno Fernandes, and so there were conversations also with the players.”
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “The conversations were very extended, very long from what I understand, and the decision of the club is to back Carrick, to give Carrick at least one more chance. Saturday, Stamford Bridge, Chelsea-Man Utd. That’s going to be obviously once again an important game.”
Responsibility and squad issues
Football365 reported that widespread reports had expected Carrick to be sacked early in the week. Football365 also said there were doubts about how Fernandes and other players would feel about Carrick remaining. According to Football365, Fernandes publicly criticised the coaching staff for the tactics against Como, and Carrick dropped him for the defeat to Bournemouth.
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “But Man Utd decided to confirm Carrick. What’s behind this decision? The intention from the club is to put responsibility on the players. There are people in the Man Utd hierarchy who believe that when things don’t go well, it’s ‘Okay, the manager is out and the players don’t take responsibility.’”
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “But United want to show to this group of players that they also have to take a big part of the responsibility. It can’t be only the manager.”
Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Lisandro Martinez said that after the Atletico Madrid game, but there are many players, not just one or two other players, who believe that Man Utd needed more signings in the summer. Man Utd needed different kind of players to add to the squad in order to be competitive in several competitions.”