Michael Carrick says the commitment of his Manchester United squad is beyond question, despite a poor start to the season and mounting pressure on the club.
United have won only two of their 13 matches in all competitions, drawing four and losing seven. They are also without a victory in their past nine games, with three draws and six defeats – their longest winless run since September 1984, when they went 10 matches without winning.
Carrick’s side sit 17th in the Premier League and have won one of their three Champions League matches this season, losing the other two. They host Roma on Tuesday.
United’s latest setback came in a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea, after which their players faced significant criticism. Lisandro Martinez was sent off during a poor second-half display at Stamford Bridge, but head coach Carrick rejected any suggestion that his players lacked the desire to improve their situation.
“The dressing room is a good place,” said the United head coach.
“Perception is a funny thing. You can make things look different ways and think about all sorts of different things.
“The commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other – do not question at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but the commitment is not a thing at all.”
United’s European form offers little comfort. They have lost seven of their past 10 Champions League games, winning two and drawing one – their worst sequence over a 10-match spell in the competition.
They have lost three successive matches in a single Champions League campaign only once before, during the 2004-05 season.
However, United’s record against Roma at home provides a more positive indication before Tuesday’s meeting. They have won all four of their home matches against the Italian club, giving them a joint-best 100% home record against an opponent in major European competition. Their other perfect record on home soil is against Anderlecht, also with four wins from four games.
Italian teams have played away to United 17 times in the European Cup and Champions League, losing on 13 occasions. The Italian sides have won three times and drawn once.
Each of those three victories came by a 1-0 scoreline: Juventus in 1996 and 2018, and AC Milan in 2005.
Despite United’s results and current position, Carrick said he was eager for the match to arrive.
“I’m actually really looking forward to the game. I can’t wait for the game [on Tuesday],” he said.
“You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but I genuinely really can’t wait for the game, and that’s all I’m focused on.”
