Carrick admits United are missing 'a number of things' after worst start in 40 years

Michael Carrick has conceded that Manchester United are lacking in several areas as the club endures their worst start to a season in 40 years, with a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea at the weekend extending their winless run to nine games.

United have won just twice in all competitions since the 2026/27 campaign began, losing seven of their 13 matches. The run has placed Carrick’s position under serious scrutiny, with the board reported to be weighing his future ahead of what the November international break could make a natural moment for a change.

Asked what his side have been missing, Carrick declined to single out any one factor. “There’s never one thing. It’s a number of things,” he said. “Of course performances, and level of performances goes a long way to achieving that, and then on the back of that, results. Sometimes it can be small things, can be a little bit bigger, but we know we need to get better at certain things.”

Carrick pointed to the first half against Chelsea as evidence that his squad retains the quality to compete. “The first half without any goals for us was quite incredible really, and we’ve got to find a way out of this kind of moment. We done a lot of good things to help us do that. We just couldn’t quite capitalise on it, but we will do.”

United’s last victory came against Sabah in the Champions League on 16 September, yet Carrick insists confidence within the group remains intact ahead of two fixtures that could define his tenure. United host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday before welcoming Aston Villa to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

“I know the players and I know what we’re capable of as a team, individually, as a group,” Carrick said. “We’ve showed it in spells, we’ve showed it in bursts. We should have been up in the game against Chelsea in a really good position going into the second half. But knowing what we’re capable of when we put it together — that’s always very close. We’ve got to act on it now and make the difference quite quickly.”