Michael Carrick has insisted there is no divide in the Manchester United dressing room and backed himself to turn things around at Old Trafford, amid growing uncertainty over his future as head coach.
The under-pressure Carrick began his news conference with an emotional statement lasting more than five minutes, admitting "we've lost our way" and calling on his players to "respect the club". United are winless in their last seven matches, their longest such run since 2015, and the problems have spilled beyond the pitch over the last fortnight, with captain Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez airing their frustrations publicly.
Asked whether the dressing room feels divided, Carrick said: "It's not divided. We just need to get back to doing what we do best. And we will."
Fernandes questioned the tactics employed by United's staff in the crushing 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como, a move widely criticised by former players. Asked if he would punish Fernandes by stripping him of the captaincy or dropping him, Carrick said the most important thing for him was the team and the dynamics in the squad. "Whatever the situation is I will always do what is best for the football club."
Carrick refused to confirm whether he had spoken to Fernandes, but said he had spoken to the hierarchy, who are understood to be increasingly concerned about the team's form. "It is pretty obvious how we are all feeling," he said. "The responsibility for me to be in this position is to lead."
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing