Michael Carrick says he will remain Manchester United head coach despite his side sitting in the Premier League relegation zone after an extraordinary 4-4 draw with Aston Villa.
United have won only once in 10 league games and are now on a club-record run of eight Premier League matches without victory. Carrick’s future remains under pressure ahead of their next match against Liverpool on 22 November.
Asked by Sky Sports whether he would quit for the good of the team, Carrick replied: “I’m not.” He later made his position clear: “That’s not going to happen.”
The 45-year-old was also dismissive when asked whether he expected talks with the club’s hierarchy before United return to action.
“Is there?” he said. “You’re telling me. I’m quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in, and it’s got to win games.”
Carrick believes his team’s performance still gives him reason to continue, despite their defensive errors and poor results.
“Yeah, 100%. I think there’s more than enough,” he said. “Goals change games and you’ve got to deal with it, and it’s part of something we have to improve on drastically, but there’s more than enough. We’re just making it too difficult for ourselves at the moment in certain times.”
United were two goals down within four minutes at Old Trafford after Alysson and Nicolas Jackson scored for Villa. Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans brought the hosts level before half-time.
Further mistakes from Diogo Dalot and Leny Yoro helped Villa regain a two-goal lead through John McGinn and Leon Goretzka. United then scored twice in stoppage time through Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu to rescue a point.
Dalot was jeered by some supporters when he came off in the second half. Carrick said he understood the fans’ anger but defended the defender.
“We’ve got to be careful with that, I understand the frustration of the supporters, so I get it,” he said. “We’re all frustrated, we’re all disappointed, and the players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that. Diogo, he gives absolutely everything.”
Villa manager Unai Emery was unhappy with the late collapse and questioned whether Dorgu’s equaliser should have been allowed. United goalkeeper Senne Lammens had gone forward for a corner and made contact with Villa goalkeeper Zion Suzuki.
“In another country, maybe it’s a foul but here it’s not,” Emery said.
He added: “How we lost [our way] the last six minutes at the time, conceding two goals is very frustrating.”
