Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Michael Carrick believes he will continue as Manchester United manager despite another damaging result, with their 2-0 defeat to Chelsea stretching their winless run to nine matches. The result has deepened the uncertainty around his position, with United now facing the possibility of slipping into the Premier League relegation zone.
United started brightly at Stamford Bridge but lost control after the break, with Lisandro Martinez’s dismissal making an already difficult afternoon worse. Speaking after the game, Carrick indicated that he expected to remain in the dugout for the upcoming Champions League meeting with Roma, insisting that his attention had already shifted to preparing the squad.
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Asked by TNT Sports whether he expected to be in charge for Tuesday’s match, Carrick gave a straightforward response. “Yeah,” he said.
The United boss was also asked about the speculation surrounding his future during the post-match press conference. Rather than entertain questions about his job security, he made it clear that he wanted to focus on the team’s next assignment. “I’m just looking forward to getting the boys ready for midweek now,” he said.
The defeat extended a worrying sequence for United, who have now gone nine games without a victory in all competitions. They have not endured a run this poor since September 1984. Their away form is another concern, having failed to win any of their first seven away matches this season, a record not seen since the 1973-74 campaign, when they were relegated.
CARRICK PRAISES UNITED SUPPORTERS
Despite another disappointing result, Carrick received vocal backing from the travelling supporters at Stamford Bridge. His chant could be heard as he walked towards the away end after the final whistle, even as sections of the crowd expressed their frustration with the team’s performance.
The United manager recognised that supporters had every reason to be unhappy but was grateful for the way they had continued to stand by the side.
“There is a lot of emotion. We are a great football club but we want to win football matches. The supporters make a lot of effort and pay a lot of money to watch us play,” he told TNT Sports.
Carrick also insisted that the players needed to repay that loyalty with performances and results, acknowledging that the supporters had been tested during the club’s difficult spell.
He refused to place the blame for the Chelsea defeat on Martinez, who was sent off in the second half after conceding a penalty. Asked whether the defender had let him down, Carrick simply replied, “No.”
UNITED NEED RESPONSE IN COMING WEEKS
United’s immediate attention turns to the Champions League clash against Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday, followed by a Premier League home fixture against Aston Villa on November 8. A trip to Liverpool on November 22 will then provide another major test.
With nine matches without a win, United cannot afford another prolonged slump. The prospect of ending the weekend in the relegation zone only adds to the urgency, while the upcoming run of fixtures could prove decisive for Carrick’s future at Old Trafford.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
