Manchester United boss Michael Carrick admits it may sound “crazy”, but he says he cannot wait for Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Roma at Old Trafford, despite a run of nine matches without a win in all competitions.
The run is United’s worst since 1988-89, and they have not gone 10 games without a win in a single campaign since 1977-78. There is a growing feeling that Carrick, who signed a two-year contract in the summer, could lose his job during the forthcoming international break.
The situation is bleak. United are 17th in the Premier League and, after defeats by Atletico Madrid and Como, sit 21st in the Champions League table after three games, with only the top 24 progressing. Roma’s only defeat so far this season came at home to Real Madrid last month, when they led 3-1 with seven minutes left.
Rather than dwell on those problems, Carrick sees the Roma game as a chance to change the narrative of the season.
“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,” Carrick said. “I’m really looking forward to it.
“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.”
Carrick watched a lively, open pre-match training session at Carrington. Bryan Mbeumo and Carlos Baleba were particularly vocal, and Lisandro Martinez was fully engaged despite the red card he received at Chelsea, which triggered a strongly negative reaction.
There have been calls for Martinez to be dropped for the Roma game, but Carrick took a more philosophical view.
“Sometimes you do things; you make a decision, you make mistakes. Sometimes it goes well for you.”
He also rejected concerns about Martinez’s commitment, and that of the wider squad.
“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.”
Mainoo: “We are one win away”
Kobbie Mainoo, who sat alongside Carrick at the media conference, also stressed the strength of the group. The England midfielder returned from a four-match absence with a muscular issue, coming on as a second-half substitute at Chelsea.
At 21, Mainoo is one of the youngest players in the squad. Having joined the club aged seven, however, he is also the longest-serving and understands the responsibilities that come with playing at Old Trafford.
“I’ve been at this club for a long time and know there’s always going to be ups and downs,” he said. “It’s never going to be plain sailing and smooth to the top. You expect bumps.
“Of course it’s been a tough season. We’ve not had the results we’ve wanted, but I feel like we’re one win away from changing that.”
United were last relegated in 1973-74. They have not been in the relegation zone after nine games or more since November 1986, when they collected a single point in Sir Alex Ferguson’s first two games in charge following Ron Atkinson’s dismissal. Their lowest position after at least nine games of a season since then was 17th in 1989-90, and they were 16th under Ruben Amorim after 37 games of the 2024-25 season.
Mainoo believes the current position is unacceptable for a club of United’s size.
“United’s a huge club,” he said. “I think a lot of people know the values this club holds and have been passed down through the people who’ve worked here and played here.
“I feel like I take some responsibility in spreading the word of what Manchester United is, coming up through the academy, and I plan to send that message for as long as I can.”