By Adegboyega Adeleye
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has dismissed speculation over his future at the club as “ridiculous” after his side’s dramatic Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton intensified scrutiny of his position.
Carrick’s comments came after United suffered back-to-back home defeats, losing 1-0 to Manchester City before throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Brighton in the League Cup on Wednesday. BBC Sport reported the manager’s response ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Fulham.
The Brighton defeat, which saw United become the first side in 50 years to lose at Old Trafford after leading 2-0, was followed by boos from supporters and chants directed at the team.
With United winning only two of their opening six matches in all competitions, speculation has grown around Carrick’s position, particularly after the disappointing start to his first full season as permanent manager.
However, Carrick insisted he is not concerned about how long he has left in the job.
“In terms of future and ownership and how long I’ve got in the job, that’s totally not in my thinking. It’s ridiculous to think that way in the position I’m in, that’s just not on the radar,” he said, according to BBC Sport.
“It’s two or three games. It’s two or three games too many because I really hate losing, but that doesn’t mean the world caves in. In some minds it does, it can’t for us.”
Carrick said United’s recent problems should be viewed in perspective despite the mounting noise around the club.
“It’s not a catastrophe or a disaster,” he said. “It’s not the end of the world.”
There has been no indication from senior figures at United that Carrick’s position is currently under threat, with the club instead understood to be concerned about the performances of several players.
That comes against the backdrop of Carrick’s strong finish to last season, when United won 12 of their final 17 matches under the 45-year-old and secured Champions League football.
The contrast with the opening weeks of the new campaign has fuelled the scrutiny. United have recorded victories over newly promoted Ipswich and Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK, but have also suffered defeats against Hull City, Manchester City and Brighton.
Carrick, who accepted responsibility for United’s struggles, rejected the idea of turning the situation into a blame game.
“Blame me. No problem. I will take the responsibility,” he said.
“But it’s not about blaming people. It’s about us, it’s about us finding solutions and being better. And that’s as a whole football club.”
The United boss also insisted he remains committed to the club despite the pressure.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, genuinely,” Carrick said. “It’s the best place for me to be, in part because of the times when it’s maybe not going to plan. Sometimes they are best times to work your way through, to find out a few things and come out an awful lot stronger.”
Carrick will hope for an immediate response when United travel to Fulham on Sunday, with the result likely to draw further attention to the pressure surrounding his tenure.
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