Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick acknowledged the club’s recent struggles but emphasized the strong sense of unity within the squad as they prepare for their upcoming fixtures. Speaking ahead of a match at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia, Carrick reflected on recent performances, highlighting both areas for improvement and the team’s collective determination.

“We’ve had some good performances and some that we want to do better in,” Carrick said. “We’ve made some mistakes, but I have to say, the type of performance we put in over the weekend and for large parts against Atletico shows there’s a lot of togetherness, will, and determination to do better for each other.” He added that, despite the challenges, he was pleased with the team’s unity.

Carrick also addressed questions surrounding his own future, stating he is focused on the immediate task rather than external speculation. “I don’t need any reassurance. It’s pretty clear. I know the role, I know my responsibilities. We have to win football games for everything to flow and fall into place,” he said.

This contrasts with remarks made recently by former manager Erik ten Hag, who expressed frustration with the club’s ownership over a lack of promised support and communication. Ten Hag also criticized Cristiano Ronaldo for what he described as letting the team and himself down, particularly after their well-publicized disagreements led to Ronaldo’s departure from the club earlier this season. “As a manager, I had to make a rational decision and keep the players I admire in,” ten Hag said.

Manchester United face further complications with squad availability, as a number of key players remain sidelined due to injuries or suspension. Defender Leny Yoro is suspended, while Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw, Benjamin Sesko, Kobbie Mainoo, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, and Manuel Ugarte are all unavailable for various reasons. The defensive line is further tested by these absences, although Carrick welcomed the imminent return of Matthijs de Ligt after nearly 11 months out with a back injury. “He’s fit, ready, and has been training for several weeks now,” Carrick said of the returning defender.

Adverse weather adds another challenge, with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecasted around the time of the game. “We’re kind of used to the rain, so we’ll make the most of it,” Carrick noted with a smile.

Adding perspective on recent internal club tensions, midfielder Andrey Santos — a £50 million signing from Chelsea — addressed comments made by Lisandro Martinez in a recent interview that criticized the club’s hierarchy and summer transfer strategy. “We know the comments about Licha,” Santos said. “But I think now it’s done, so we have to move on to tomorrow. We are on the same page and we believe in ourselves and our teammates.”