Carrick Calls Talk of His Job Future 'Ridiculous' After Bad Results

Michael Carrick, manager of Manchester United, watched his team during the Premier League match against West Ham United at the London Stadium in Stratford, UK, on February 10, 2026. (Photo by Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto) (Photo by MI News / NurPhoto via AFP)

Carrick said it is "ridiculous" to think about how long he has left as manager after just "two or three" bad results. His team is set to play Fulham on Sunday after a tough week.

Manchester United lost to Manchester City at home, even though City played with only 10 men after 23 minutes. Brighton then made history by becoming the first team in 50 years to come from two goals down to win at Old Trafford in their Carabao Cup match.

Fans reacted to the loss by booing and chanting against their team. According to BBC Sport, Carrick said after the game that he was "not bothered" by the pressure. He repeated this feeling when speaking to the media ahead of the Fulham match.

"I know the club, I know the role, I know what’s expected here in terms of playing to a certain standard and achieving certain things on the pitch. I get all that.

"In terms of future and ownership and how long I’ve got in the job, that’s totally not in my thinking. It’s ridiculous to think that way in the position I’m in, that’s just not on the radar.

"It’s two or three games. It’s two or three games too many because I really hate losing, but that doesn’t mean the world caves in. In some minds it does, it can’t for us."

There is no sign from senior management at United that Carrick’s job is in danger. They are more focused on how many players have underperformed, especially since the team won 12 out of 17 games under Carrick in the second half of last season.

So far this season, they have only two wins from six matches. They won against newly promoted Ipswich, but they had to come from behind. They also won against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK in the Champions League.

"It’s not a catastrophe or a disaster," Carrick said. "It’s not the end of the world."

Still, the pressure around a big club like United often makes things seem worse than they are. Carrick knows that problems at Old Trafford are often blown out of proportion.

Despite the challenges, he loves his job and the club he played for and started his coaching career at.

"There’s great feelings, and there’s obviously disappointments, and sometimes the smaller disappointments lead to being a little bit bigger," he said. "It’s just part of coping and being at this great football club.

"I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, genuinely. It’s the best place for me to be, in part because of the times when it’s maybe not going to plan. Sometimes they are best times to work your way through, to find out a few things and come out an awful lot stronger."

Outside the club, people have been talking about recruitment issues, especially at left-back. They are also discussing United’s finances and debt, Carrick’s lack of experience, and the experience of his coaching staff, apart from assistant coach Steve Holland.

"It’s not a blame game," Carrick said. He mentioned that Luke Shaw and new signing Carlos Baleba "have a chance" to be fit for the match at Craven Cottage.

"We all search for things to look at and point at, or whatever reason it may be and find a blame. Blame me. No problem. I will take the responsibility.

"But it’s not about blaming people. It’s about us, it’s about us finding solutions and being better. That’s as a whole football club."