Michael Carrick believes perspective is required amid Manchester United’s indifferent start to the new season.
United travel to Fulham on Sunday in their final outing before the international break. Carrick’s men are still reeling from their midweek Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion, when they threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home.
That led to questions being asked regarding Carrick’s future, not only by a section of supporters but also some in the media.
Responding to the fallout, Carrick came out fighting in his pre-match press duties ahead of Sunday.
“It’s not a catastrophe or a disaster,” said Carrick. “It’s not the end of the world. We’re not in the place where we’ve gone on an awful long run of horrific results, you know? We’ve lost a couple of games recently and we feel like we’ve started and we’ve been in all the games that we’ve played, if not been the better team at the start of games, so it’s not like we’re having a real struggle all the time.
“The good things we’ve done get lost in the surrounding feeling but they don’t get lost by us.”
United lost for a third time this season against the Seagulls, with defeats in the Premier League to Manchester City and Hull sandwiching a four-point domestic haul against Ipswich and Everton and a routine Champions League win over Sabah.
Defeat at Craven Cottage, however, would intensify the heat on Carrick however, especially with a three-week break looming.
For Fulham, they will hope to build on their last two showings – a gritty and hard-fought 0-0 draw away at Liverpool and then a London derby win at West Ham in the League Cup.
After getting their first point of the season at Anfield, manager Alvaro Arbeloa will now be keen to notch up his first victory in the league.
Arbeloa had warm words for his opposite number Carrick pre-match, saying: “Every Premier League manager is under pressure. It’s not because [of] what comes from outside, it’s because you have to be really demanding of yourself. All the managers want to win every weekend.
“For sure, when you are a coach of a big team you are always under pressure, but same for me because I need to win games. Both teams will want to win the game on Sunday, so it’s going to be a good battle.”
In terms of team news, Kenny Tete is not available for the hosts with Tom Cairney also sidelined. Ryan Sessegnon is a doubt with a groin injury. For United, Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton, Matthijs de Ligt and Amad all miss out. Carlos Baleba and Luke Shaw are 50-50.
