Michael Carrick admits Man United have fallen below expectations after a poor run of results, urging players to restore the club’s identity
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has admitted that the club have fallen below expectations following a disappointing run of results, insisting that his players must rediscover the values and identity that have defined the Premier League side.
Speaking at a press conference on Friday, October 23, 2026, ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, Carrick described the team’s recent performances as unacceptable and called for a collective effort to restore confidence.
The manager was particularly critical of Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como, which he said had been painful to witness.
“Recently we haven’t had a good time, I think that’s pretty obvious,” Carrick said, according to BBC Sport.
“Wednesday was a bad night, and it hurt me to see us play like that. It was unacceptable.”
United’s struggles have intensified scrutiny of Carrick, with the team enduring a run of seven games without a victory.
Reports of tensions and criticism within the squad have added to the pressure ahead of the Bournemouth fixture.
The former United midfielder said his priority was to ensure the team performed in a way that reflected the club’s traditions and gave supporters reason to be proud.
“My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, and the supporters, and they can be proud of in the identity we show,” he said.
“We have gone away from that recently. We all must recognise that.”
Carrick stressed that Manchester United’s history should serve as a reminder of the standards expected from players and staff, particularly during difficult periods.
He highlighted resilience, humility and hard work as essential qualities, warning that the club could not afford to abandon those principles amid its current struggles.
“The foundation and values of this football club have been etched for many years. I totally understand and get every single one of them,” he said.
“There’s a resilience about this football club that runs very deep. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I’ve felt it, I know some of the individuals closely who have been a big part of that history.”
Carrick also rejected any suggestion that the club’s reputation should entitle its players to special treatment.
“Entitlement cannot be at this football club,” he said.
“It was based on being humble, having humility, and hard work. We can never lose that, and I won’t let us lose that.”
Carrick also declined to rule out leaving captain Bruno Fernandes out of the starting line-up against Bournemouth when asked whether he had considered dropping the Portuguese midfielder.
Fernandes has reportedly criticised Carrick’s tactics following the defeat in Italy, adding another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding the team.
However, Carrick said decisions would be guided by what he believed was best for the club rather than individual considerations.
“The most important thing for me is the team, the squad and dynamics in the squad,” he said.
“It’s about the football club. I’ll always do what is best for the football club.”
His comments suggest that team selection will be based on collective performance and squad dynamics as United seek to arrest their poor run.
Manchester United will host Bournemouth on Sunday as Carrick attempts to guide the team back to winning ways and ease mounting pressure.
The manager’s immediate challenge is to translate his call for renewed commitment into an improved performance on the pitch.
With supporters demanding better results, the Bournemouth encounter presents United with an opportunity to demonstrate greater resilience and begin rebuilding confidence within the squad.
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