Manchester United players have reportedly acknowledged that they have let Michael Carrick down in recent weeks. The Reds were firing on all cylinders at the start of the Englishman’s second spell as interim coach.
The honeymoon period is over for Carrick and recent dissapointing displays have led to doubts over his future at Old Trafford. A seven-game unbeaten run ended on Wednesday (March 4th) when his side lost 2-1 to Newcastle United.
Carrick looked to be in pole position to be appointed permanently as Ruben Amorim’s replacement at the end of the season. But unconvincing performances have raised concerns, although his troops believe they are to blame.
Manchester United players ‘let down’ Carrick
Carrick has overseen six wins, one draw and one defeat since replacing Amorim on a temporary basis in early January. That includes wins over Premier League title rivals Arsenal (3-2) and Manchester City.
The English tactician warned fans not to get carried away, but didn’t rule out a potential run at the title. His pre-match comments alluding to a possible late challenge to become champions came back to bite him.
Newcastle were superior at St James’ Park even after they were reduced to ten men following Jacob Ramsey’s sending off. A defeat was coming for the Red Devils, given a drop in performances since beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 (February 7th).
According to SunSport, Carrick’s players believe they have let Carrick down. They feel the long gaps between matches are negatively impacting their starts to games.
Newcastle were in control from the off on Wednesday night, and a similar situation occurred last weekend. The Reds came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1, although Maxence Lacroix gave the visitors an early fourth-minute lead.
A source is reported to have said, “The players feel like they let the manager down with the way they played. They think the big gaps between games are hurting them and making them struggle to start properly. It’s something they are aware of and want to change.”
The problem Carrick has is that his men are out of all cup competitions, and that means less regular football. But it should also be benefiting the group because their top four rivals, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool, are still competing in Europe.
Carrick’s case
If Carrick can get a response from his players and a much-improved performance this weekend, it could further strengthen his case to become head coach permanently. He needs his United side to bounce back quickly as they face Villa in a crucial game in the top four race.
The Reds sit third in the Premier League table, level on points with Villa but with a superior goal difference. Chelsea are three points behind in fifth, and Liverpool are on the same points as the Blues but with a worse goal difference.
Unai Emery’s men were in the title picture during the winter but have stumbled recently. They suffered a 4-1 loss at home to Chelsea midweek and it’s a must-win game for Carrick in his hopes of returning the club to the Champions League.
