Michael Carrick does not feel like his time in the Old Trafford hotseat is running out and is relishing the chance to end Manchester United’s wretched winless run against Roma in the Champions League.
The head coach’s position was hanging by a thread even before Saturday’s 2-0 Premier League loss at Chelsea, which meant they sit above the relegation zone on goal difference alone.
United have made their worst start to a league campaign in 40 years and are without a victory in nine matches in all competitions, stretching back to September’s 4-0 triumph against Sabah in the Champions League.
The Red Devils play their first home European match since then against in-form Roma on Tuesday, with an Old Trafford encounter against Aston Villa following before an international break that could see a change in the dugout.
Asked if he felt like a coach who only has two matches left having overseen United’s worst winless streak since 1988, Carrick said: “No, not at all.
“Listen, I can’t look into the future. You never know what’s going to happen, I don’t know what’s going to happen.
“That doesn’t change the way I feel, how we’re preparing for the game tomorrow, and I’m actually really looking forward to the game. Can’t wait for the game tomorrow.
“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 tomorrow, and that’s all I’m focused on. Really, I am.
“Whatever happens is going to happen after that in whatever direction it goes in, but we want to make it a big night tomorrow night first.”
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are contenders to replace Carrick if the much-criticised United hierarchy decide to make a change.
The Glazers and co-owner Jim Ratcliffe are under the microscope along with Ineos appointments such as director of football Jason Wilcox, who Lisandro Martinez critiqued in jaw-dropping fashion three weeks ago.
The United centre-back ended a dramatic month by giving away a penalty and being sent off in the weekend loss at Chelsea, meaning he will be banned for Villa but can feature against Roma.
Carrick said of hot-headed, out-of-sorts defender Martinez: “No, I’ve got no concerns about commitment at all.
“Things happen in football. Sometimes you do things, sometimes you make a decision, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you. But the commitment is not an issue for sure.”
Speaking on the wider dressing-room culture, the United boss added: “I’ve said it before, the commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, I don’t question that at all.
“We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but commitment’s not a thing (to worry about) at all.”
Marcus Rashford and Luke Shaw will again be unavailable to face Roma through injury, although the former could return from a hip issue to face his former loan club Villa.
Long-term absentees Benjamin Sesko and Manuel Ugarte will miss the Roma encounter, as will Patrick Dorgu despite training on Monday for the first time since sustaining a hamstring injury in September.
United boss Carrick said: “It’s great to have him back. He’s worked ever so hard to be back with the group but he won’t be involved tomorrow. We’ll see how he progresses through the week.”
Meanwhile, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is not getting “hung up” on Manchester United’s miserable form as he attempts to mastermind a famous Old Trafford triumph.
Gasperini, who only has 17 outfield players to select from, said: “Obviously Manchester United is struggling somewhat in terms of results in the Premier League at the moment.
“But we can’t get distracted and too hung up on that situation because we know that Manchester United is a strong team, we know that they have top players in their squad.
“We know what the atmosphere is going to be like here as well.
“They make things very difficult for the opposition here at Old Trafford, so we’ll be playing tomorrow’s game as if we’re playing against Manchester United at the top of its form.”
Gasperini, who at 68 knows the ups and down of management as well as anybody, continued: “I don’t really know why Manchester United are experiencing the difficulties that they are at the moment.
“But what I do know is that Manchester United is made up of very strong players and sometimes you go through a hard time, but then you get back on track and you start getting good results.
“I hope that is what happens to Manchester United. After tomorrow, obviously.”
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