Carrick optimistic despite Man United’s worst season start

Manchester United coach Michael Carrick has expressed confidence that his team can turn around their disappointing start to the 2026/27 season.

United drew 1-1 with 10-man Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Saturday, falling to 13th position on the league table with six points from six matches.

The Red Devils will seek a response when they travel to Spain to face Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday, having recorded just one victory in their previous six matches across all competitions.

Read Also: Carrick urges Man United to be more ‘streetwise’ after Tottenham draw

“We definitely need to start strong tomorrow evening. We know what we’re expecting tomorrow night; we’ll be ready for it; the boys are ready for it,” Carrick said in a pre-match conference.

He said United’s response after the break against Tottenham had strengthened his belief that the players could reverse their fortunes.

“The way we responded (against Tottenham) in the second half in particular, I think you could see that, so that gives me a lot of faith that I had already in the boys, that they are hungry and eager to put things right,” he said.

Carrick acknowledged the criticism surrounding the club’s poor form, but rejected suggestions that the situation amounted to a disaster.

“I understand when it’s not going too well, there’s a real kind of clamour, and a real feeling of ‘it’s a disaster’ and ‘it’s all wrong’ and ‘everything needs to be changed’,” he said.

He said overcoming difficult periods was part of achieving success and insisted he remained confident Manchester United would emerge from their current struggles.

“To achieve anything, really, you have got to be able to deal with things that are difficult, and you have got to overcome things,” Carrick said.

“That’s part of it. I did it throughout my career just to be here; we are right there now in the middle of it, but I totally believe that we’ll come through it.”

Despite the scrutiny surrounding United’s results, he said external pressure was not driving his approach, stressing that the team’s own ambitions remained the priority.

“I think there’s our own expectation. We know what we want, what we’re capable of doing as a team… and that comes from us,” he said.

“I certainly don’t look outside or elsewhere at what it should look like.”

Carrick added that his experience of football’s highs and lows had helped him maintain perspective during the difficult start.

“I’ve felt the ups, and I have felt the downs; I don’t feel a pressure from that at all. It’s us wanting to succeed, and we want to win; we want to be part of something successful, so that’s the drive.”