Carrick confident at Manchester United despite 'sticky' start ahead of Atletico Madrid clash
Quick summary
Michael Carrick says there is 'no negativity' around Manchester United despite a 'sticky' start, as he prepares the team for a match against Atletico Madrid.
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Attributed to original sourceUnited have endured worst league start since 1986-87
Trip to Atlético in Champions League awaits on Tuesday
Manchester United have endured their worst league start in 40 years but Michael Carrick insists he is “loving it”. United arrived in Madrid without Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw, who both picked up knocks in the draw against Tottenham at the weekend, and with the coach admitting that his team are in “a spot”, but he vowed that they would “come out fighting”.
Despite collecting just six points in the Premier League so far, Carrick claimed he did not feel under pressure and backed his captain, Bruno Fernandes, who he revealed was still “carrying something”, to rediscover his form. As he talked about building, there was a reminder too of the fact that Arsenal, the champions, finished “seventh or eighth” in Mikel Arteta’s first two seasons.
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What happened
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick addressed the media ahead of his side's fixture against Atletico Madrid, downplaying concerns about a 'sticky' start to his tenure. Carrick insisted there is 'no negativity' inside the squad and that confidence remains high despite early struggles. The comments come as pressure mounts on United to find consistency in both domestic and European competition. The upcoming clash against Atletico Madrid will be a key test of United's resilience and Carrick's ability to steady the ship.
Chance analysis
Carrick's public projection of confidence is a familiar managerial reflex when results have not fully clicked, but the phrase 'sticky start' is an honest admission that United's opening to his tenure has not gone to plan. The Atletico Madrid fixture represents a meaningful barometer: it is the kind of disciplined, physically demanding European opponent against which United's current frailties tend to be exposed. How Carrick's messaging translates into performance will shape the narrative around his project in the coming weeks.
Carrick's expressions of confidence are unlikely to shift United's underlying form, but the admission of a 'sticky' start reinforces the sense that this is a team still searching for stability.