Carrick shrugs off Man Utd sack talk ahead of Roma match

Michael Carrick brushed off suggestions he has just two games left as Manchester United boss as he prepares his underperforming side for Tuesday’s Champions League clash against Roma. Carrick’s position at Old Trafford is increasingly precarious following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, which extended United’s winless run in all competitions to nine games — they last had a longer such sequence in 1984.

Former United and England midfielder Carrick was asked at his pre-match press conference on Monday whether he felt he had just two games remaining at the helm — against Roma and Aston Villa. The Villa match on Sunday comes just before an international break, potentially giving the United hierarchy an opportunity to make a managerial change. “No, not at all,” said the 45-year-old, in his first full season in charge.

“If you look into the future, you never know what’s going to happen. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. That doesn’t change the way I feel, how we’re preparing for the game tomorrow. “I’m actually really looking forward to the game, can’t wait for the game tomorrow. You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but I genuinely can’t wait.” Carrick also said he had “no concerns” over the commitment of out-of-form Argentine centre-back Lisandro Martinez, who was sent off in United’s defeat at Stamford Bridge.

The defender had previously criticised club chiefs over a lack of investment in the squad. “Things happen in football, sometimes you do things, sometimes you make decisions, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but the commitment is not an issue for sure,” said Carrick. – Dressing-room mood – The United head coach insisted the dressing room was in “a good place” despite the club’s terrible start to the season.

“Perception is a funny thing. You can make things look all sorts of different ways and think about all sorts of different things,” he said. “I’ve said it before, the commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, I don’t question that at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but commitment is not a thing at all.” United are just one place above the Premier League relegation zone after taking a mere seven points from their nine matches so far this season.

And they are 20th in the Champions League table following a dismal 4-1 defeat away at Como last month. Only the top 24 teams will progress beyond the league phase. But midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, sitting alongside Carrick at Monday’s press conference, said United could turn things around. “We’ve not had the results we’ve wanted,” said the 21-year-old.

“But we need to look forward now. There’s big, big games ahead and I feel like we’re one win away from changing that.” Carrick has fond memories of facing Roma as a member of Alex Ferguson’s team, scoring twice in United’s 7-1 quarter-final second-leg triumph in the Champions League in 2007. “It was a magical night, I have to say,” he recalled. “It was one of the best nights, one of the best games, one of the best atmospheres I’ve been fortunate enough to witness.

“The fact that I scored a couple and that was very unusual gives me great memories, but it was more the emotion of the night. I have to say, it was a special one.”