Michael Carrick believes Manchester United can still have a great season, even though their 1-1 draw with Leeds left them with seven points from seven Premier League games.
United have won only once in the league this season, against Ipswich in August, and are enduring their worst start to a campaign since 1986. They have also managed just one victory in seven matches across all competitions.
“I understand the situation doesn’t look great but I have no doubts we can go on a good run,” Carrick said. “We have to find a way through it. There has been a cycle where it can go in different directions, but we are more than capable of winning matches.
“I am not sat here comparing it to any point [in the past], but we know we can do it, we have done it for some time and we feel we are a better group now. I am encouraged by a lot of things and I think we can still have a really good season.”
The draw at Elland Road came after a difficult week for United, who lost 2-0 away to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. Lisandro Martinez criticised the club summer recruitment after that defeat, which raised further questions about the direction of the team under Carrick.
United’s manager said the players had responded well in training and described the performance against Leeds as the beginning of a fresh start. He was encouraged by their commitment but acknowledged that the result offered little reason for celebration.
“It felt like a fresh start today, accepting it and doing something about it,” Carrick said. “There was definitely that commitment, it had to be there today.
“I didn’t doubt that, I could feel it, the last couple of days has been as good around the group as we have had for quite some time.”
Bryan Mbeumo gave United the lead in the first half, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised six minutes after the break. Leeds capitalised after United failed to clear a corner, with the striker finishing from close range.
Carrick said his players had shown the intensity required for a difficult away fixture and had responded to discussions about the rivalry and the demands of playing at Elland Road.
“There was definitely an edge to the game, an intensity. I spoke to the boys about the history of what the game is, the territory, what it takes to win here,” he said.
“It definitely tests you and it wasn’t a perfect performance, but there was a lot in there to show. That didn’t surprise me.
“But we are not getting too carried away because we didn’t win, but if you keep doing the right things for the right reasons, you get what you deserve in the end.”
United now face a trip to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday as they seek to build on a performance Carrick believes can provide a platform for improvement.
Leeds manager Daniel Farke was disappointed that his side failed to take all three points after what he considered a dominant display. He said Leeds had struggled to make the most of their opportunities in the final third.
“We took it as a compliment that we have done many things right over the last month that we were seen as favourites against Manchester United,” Farke said. “But we have earned this. We wanted to prove the comments right.
“We were the dominant side, but we couldn’t capitalise as we lacked quality in and around the box. It is still difficult in this league to win points. You have to be clinical and be very, very effective, but we have to keep going.”
