All of this two months into a first full campaign piloting United after last term ended so rosily for the former United midfielder.<\/p>\n
On the final day of last season, United won 3-0 at Brighton<\/a> and Carrick secured an impressive third-place finish, 48 hours after agreeing a two-year deal<\/a> to continue as head coach.<\/p>\n By last Saturday, United had six points from the first six games after drawing 1-1 with Tottenham at Old Trafford, placing Carrick\u2019s job in jeopardy as the walls closed in on him a fortnight before the clocks go back.<\/p>\n A game at Leeds in January proved to be Ruben Amorim\u2019s last in charge at Manchester United after he greeted the 1-1 draw by demanding his colleagues in the recruitment department \u201cdo their job\u201d<\/a>. With an uncanny circularity Carrick heads to Elland Road on Sunday after Mart\u00ednez made similar comments. Amorim\u2019s team were sixth going into that game; Carrick\u2019s start the weekend 13th.<\/p>\n On Friday, though, came a masterclass from Carrick in dialling down emotion as Mart\u00ednez\u2019s explosive comments about Wilcox \u2013 \u201cI expect more [investment], 100%. I expect more from our technical director\u201d \u2013 were addressed and he repeatedly referred to the \u201creally good feeling\u201d at the club.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really not a drama for us as a group,\u201d he said. \u201cThe boys have trained really well. This morning there was a really good feeling around the squad \u2026 so we\u2019ve moved on pretty quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n If this seems less than credible, and almost certainly a stance coached by United\u2019s PR mandarins, what else would Carrick be expected to say? More obvious was how the zen-like performance required from the club\u2019s leader was being delivered. Even when he broke from the script to interrupt an inquisitor this strengthened the sense of Carrick being in control \u2013 hardly easy given the heightened glare on United<\/a> since Tuesday evening.<\/p>\n When the positive vibes trope was challenged by a questioner saying: \u201cWe\u2019ll have to take you at face value\u201d, Carrick\u2019s interjection came with a smile. \u201cI\u2019m telling you the truth when I say that,\u201d he said. \u201cDo you not believe me, no? The players totally believe me. I\u2019m telling you the truth. The squad today was in a fantastic place, better than I\u2019ve seen it for a while, actually, and that\u2019s it, plain and simple, you know? We\u2019re emotional, we\u2019re passionate, we care a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n When signing on to be the permanent United manager, Carrick had overseen only 21 games at elite level \u2013 in two caretaker spells at the club. United had 17 league games to play when he replaced Amorim, and Carrick has shown signs of faltering this season when having to compete on four fronts.<\/p>\n Elimination by Brighton at the earliest stage of the Carabao Cup was not a great calling card regarding an ability to juggle competitions, and there was a surprising reaction from him after the 2-0 opening-day loss at Hull<\/a>. He bridled at the suggestion United had lacked \u201cpassion\u201d during a first-half horror show. \u201cOh come,\u201d Carrick said. \u201cThat\u2019s ridiculous.\u201d<\/p>\n Lisandro Mart\u00ednez caused controversy for his post-match comments after Manchester United\u2019s Champions League defeat at Atl\u00e9tico Madrid. Photograph: Florencia Tan Jun\/Uefa\/Getty Images<\/p>\n A faulty United rearguard is hampering an attack that is functioning far better and has the most shots (125) and most touches in the opposition box (205) in the Premier League. Nine goals from six matches is not paltry but greater ruthlessness would transform a promising front six into a potent one. Carrick has to find the right blend from Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.<\/p>\n
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