Carrick takes responsibility for crisis and vows to ‘hold the umbrella’

“I have to hold the umbrella and get wet so the others can stay dry” was Michael Carrick’s way of describing his responsibility on Friday, as Manchester United endured a run of poor results. The manager defended his handling of the team and said he was convinced he could turn things around. The situation worsened on Wednesday with a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League.

Carrick described the loss in Italy as one of the most painful nights since he took charge in January. “Wednesday was a bad night, for many reasons. It hurt a lot,” he admitted. Watching his team play that way was “obviously painful” for him, he added, calling the performance “totally unacceptable”.

“Lately, we haven’t been through a good period; I think that’s obvious. So I fully accept the situation we’re in,” the manager said. He also acknowledged that the team had fallen short and endured a run with which it was “not at all happy”. Carrick’s position is under pressure after seven matches without a win in all competitions, a run reported by Mundo Deportivo.

The Premier League table also reflects the current difficulties: United are 13th on seven points, while Bournemouth are 15th, one point behind. This follows a more successful spell. Last season, Carrick spoke of five months of relative success, during which he was pleased with what the team was achieving. In January 2026, after Rúben Amorim’s departure, he took charge and led United to a finish among the Premier League’s top three, along with qualification for the Champions League.

The defeat to Como also increased the pressure after Bruno Fernandes criticised United’s tactical approach. Asked whether public criticism by players suggested divisions in the dressing room, Carrick ruled that out. He declined to comment on Bruno Fernandes’s future as captain and would not say whether he had spoken to the midfielder after the match.

Carrick said his priority was to restore an identity that the team had completely lost in recent weeks. “My responsibility is to put a team on the pitch that represents this club and its supporters, a team they can be proud of,” he said. He acknowledged that United had moved away from that identity in some matches and said he was taking steps to address it.

Carrick also spoke about the supporters, many of whom travelled to Como to watch the heaviest defeat of his time in charge. “The supporters are fundamental to this club. Given the time and money they invest, experiencing what we all felt on Wednesday was very difficult,” he said. He insists United can recover the energy and connection that characterised last season: “We need to make the supporters feel again as they did during the first five months of the year… and we will. I’m completely convinced of that.”