Following Manchester United's heavy defeat against Bournemouth, Michael Carrick attended the post-match press conference and answered various questions from journalists. He clearly stated that he would continue working as normal and that being dismissed was not within his expectations. He acknowledged that the team is currently in a difficult situation and affirmed that he takes full responsibility.
Question: Michael, after the match, I wanted to ask what your emotions are like right now. As you walked toward the tunnel, the Stretford End was still singing your name. Despite the recent results and performances not being good, the supporters are clearly still very much behind you.
Carrick: "I have to say, my emotions are really mixed. To be honest, I probably didn't expect that reaction from the supporters."
"However, I have always felt their support, and I have always felt that connection with them. You're probably tired of hearing it because I've sat here and said many times how much respect I have for them."
"So, for them to show that support back in that way means a huge amount to me."
"At the same time, we are still in such a difficult position, coming off a day like today and the recent run of games; of course, it's very difficult to take."
“So, my feelings right now are definitely very mixed.”
Question: Michael, what did you say to the players in the dressing room after the match? Because when the players left the pitch, it was clear the supporters were strongly behind you, but very unhappy with the players. Walking into the tunnel, you surely heard their reaction toward the players. Did you discuss this with them? Where does the team go from here?
Carrick: "To be honest, right after the match finishes, it's not the right time for an in-depth discussion in the dressing room."
"Emotions in the dressing room right now are very raw, and there is a lot of disappointment. In fairness, a lot of the players are hurting deeply as well; they are equally disappointed with where things stand."
"It's not that they don't care, nor is it that they want the team to be in this position. The position we find ourselves in now is something we face together."
"I haven't spoken to every player individually yet, but those I have spoken to, you can tell this situation affects them deeply."
"The match didn't go the way we hoped, and we weren't able to make things go the way we wanted them to."
“Given the way the match ended, the atmosphere in the ground, and how the overall situation has unfolded, there is only so much that can be said right now. We need to take some time to process it all and figure out what it means.”
Question: Supporters feel the issues at this club go far beyond performances on the pitch. But there is only one manager, and the manager must take responsibility for results, and right now the desired results are clearly not arriving. Do you expect to still be in charge of the team next week?
Carrick: “Of course I take responsibility. As I've said, I accept that responsibility.”
“Whatever the results are, whether we win, lose, or draw, whatever happens at the club, I am sitting in this seat right now, I respect what this role represents, and so the responsibility lies with me.”
“Beyond that, what else can I really say right now?”
Question: Michael, I know you've been asked similar questions before, but has the time come for Jason Wilcox or Omar Berrada to come out and speak? Not just to respond to the media, but also to address the fans. The supporters were clearly behind you today, but you surely heard the chants aimed at Jason and the club's owners, yet the hierarchy remains silent.
Carrick: “Just like I told you a few days ago, that is not for me to decide.”
“It's not my place to say who should speak, who shouldn't speak, when they should speak, or how they should speak.”
“I know my role, which is to sit here, communicate with you, and represent the team and this football club to the best of my ability.”
“Sitting in my position, as I mentioned regarding the atmosphere in the stadium, I can feel the supporters' backing, and I can also feel their frustration and disappointment.”
“Standing there in this situation, my feelings are genuinely very mixed.”
“Without a doubt, it has been a very difficult day.”
Question: Michael, following up on that: the supporters made it very clear today where they feel the blame lies. Excuse me for being blunt: given the current situation, do you expect to be sacked tonight or tomorrow?
Carrick: “I completely understand the situation.”
“To be honest, I don't particularly expect anything. I will continue to work as normal.”
“I love it here; I always have. I will always do what I believe is in the best interest of this football club.”
“Whatever decision is ultimately made, or whatever happens, is what it is.”
“So, no, I don't particularly expect things to go one way or the other.”
Question: Did the club hierarchy speak to you after the match?
Carrick: “No. They just came down briefly like they do after every match; there was nothing unusual.”
Question: Considering how well things ended last season, are you personally shocked that things have reached this point so quickly? Because at the end of last season, I don't think almost anyone foresaw this.
Carrick: “Yes, getting to where we are now... there are certainly plenty of questions, and plenty of answers needed.”
“However, last season, under the circumstances at the time, finishing third was, in my view, a very good achievement.”
“Getting to that position and picking up so many positive results, we knew full well what that entailed.”
“We understood where we stood at that moment, we knew what needed to come next, what areas had to improve, and what stage this squad and the group as a whole were at.”
“So, of course, I knew we hadn't solved all the problems, and that there was an enormous amount of work left to do.”
“That doesn't mean, however, that things should have developed into what they are today.”
Question: Michael, you've lived through similar situations as a player, as a coach, as a fan, and now you are experiencing it as the manager. Do you know why this club always seems to cycle back to moments like this? Despite having high points, like the performances last season, and winning trophies and achieving success, why does it always come back here in the end?
Carrick: “There could be many reasons.”
“If I had all the answers, I wouldn't have let this happen.”
“If there were things truly within my control that I could have implemented to prevent this, I certainly would have done so already.”
“This season, I have tried everything I possibly could in hopes the team wouldn't slip into this current situation.”
“Yet, for various reasons, whatever they may be specifically, we haven't been able to prevent things from reaching this point.”
Question: Do you know what some of those reasons are?
Carrick: “Consistency. Maintaining a consistent standard, continuing to push forward, and demanding more—that is always a challenge.”
“You have to continually drive the squad forward.”
“Consistency really is everything. If you cannot keep all aspects of the work moving forward continuously and stably, things become extremely difficult.”
“Of course, that isn't the entirety of the reasons. There are plenty of aspects that could be analyzed.”
“However, sitting here right now, I don't think this is the right moment to go through all of those issues one by one.”
"Thank you, everyone."
