Under-pressure Manchester United boss Michael Carrick delivered a passionate and emotional address lasting five minutes and 30 seconds as he fights to save his job. He also refused to rule out dropping captain Bruno Fernandes for Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Instead of taking his seat and answering questions as normal at Friday’s scheduled pre-match media conference at Carrington, Carrick chose to speak first. Former boss Sir Alex Ferguson used the same approach, although the legendary Scot rarely spoke at such length.
United have gone seven games without a win. The run culminated in Wednesday’s shocking 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como. Defender Lisandro Martinez has attacked the club’s hierarchy, and Fernandes condemned his own tactics in Italy. Against that backdrop, Carrick wanted to reaffirm what United stand for.
“Recently we haven’t had a good time, I think that’s pretty obvious,” he said.
“Wednesday was a bad night, and it hurt me to see us play like that. It was unacceptable.
“My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, and the supporters, and they can be proud of in the identity we show. We have gone away from that recently. It’s important we all recognise that.
“The foundation and values of this football club have been etched for many years. I totally understand and get every single one of them.
“There’s a resilience about this football club that runs very deep. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I’ve felt it, I’m now knowing some of the individuals closely who have been a big part of that history.
“Entitlement cannot be at this football club.
“It was based on being humble, having humility, and hard work. We can never lose that, and I won’t let us lose that.”
Asked about Fernandes and whether he had considered dropping him, a defiant Carrick replied: “The most important thing for me is the team, the squad and dynamics in the squad.
“It’s about the football club. I’ll always do what is best for the football club.”
No guarantees for Fernandes
Club sources said on Thursday that Fernandes would not have the captaincy taken away or be fined for his post-match comments following the Como defeat. United won 12 of their 17 games under Carrick last season.
In a further interview on Wednesday night with Sky Italia, the Portugal international referred to the club’s storied history.
“At this club, there’s too much focus on what’s been done in the past,” said Fernandes. “But we’re not those people anymore. The club and the players need to understand that.
“Unfortunately for us – especially when it comes to the players – those who join expect to win trophies, win games, and reach the highest level, that’s been very difficult at this club in recent years.”
It remains unclear whether Carrick was aware of Fernandes’ comments about the club’s history before he spoke. When asked again whether he would strip the 32-year-old midfielder of the captaincy, Carrick repeated: “I will always do what is best for the football club.”
He declined to say whether he had spoken to Fernandes about his conduct. “I don’t think this is the time to go into too much detail,” he said.
Despite the challenge to his authority, Carrick insisted the United dressing room was not divided. “No, it’s not,” he added. “We just need to get back to doing what we do best.”
Carrick also said the club were “doing everything” to support Fernandes and his family, whose Cheshire home was burgled on Wednesday. “Thankfully they weren’t directly affected even though it is an awful situation.”
‘Hurt’ fuels motivation and inspiration
Carrick named legendary United figures such as Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Ferguson as examples of the humility, sacrifice and hard work expected of United players. That message sat uneasily with his post-match criticism on Wednesday, when he said that if players don’t run forward or back properly, they will not win games.
Asked how he would persuade his current squad to live up to the values he demanded, Carrick said: “It’s clear as day.
“I’m not telling you anything new. I haven’t invented that. That’s the make-up of any good football team. You have to earn the right to be better than your opponent. That never changes.
“What we look like as a group is my responsibility. That’s the privileged position I am in. I’ll hold that umbrella for me to get wet and everyone else to stay dry.
“[Wednesday] hurts an awful lot, but that doesn’t stop me. That hurt is used as pure motivation and inspiration to want more, expect more and get us going in a different direction.”