Carrick cheered as United players booed by train passengers ahead of Chelsea clash

Manchester United’s players were booed by fellow passengers on a London-bound train on Friday, just 24 hours before their Premier League trip to Chelsea, in a sign of the mounting frustration surrounding the club’s dire run of form.

The squad and staff, led by manager Michael Carrick, travelled from Stockport to the capital as part of their standard pre-match routine. Their journey was disrupted when road congestion delayed the group’s arrival at the station, forcing the train — which had already departed Manchester Piccadilly — to wait roughly seven minutes. When United’s party finally boarded, certain players were reportedly met with boos from other passengers. Carrick, however, was greeted with a cheer.

The incident echoed scenes at Old Trafford the previous Sunday, when United’s players were booed off the pitch following a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth — a result that left the club with just one Premier League win all season and extended their winless streak to eight matches. On that occasion, supporters had sung Carrick’s name as he left the field, a contrast that has continued to define the public mood around the 45-year-old.

Despite widespread expectation that the Bournemouth loss would cost Carrick his job, United opted to keep faith with him heading into the Chelsea fixture. How much longer that backing lasts remains an open question.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Carrick appeared unfazed by the scrutiny. “I don’t need any assurances from anyone,” he said. “I totally get the position. I understand the job. I understand the responsibilities. I understand what comes with that.”

On the criticism directed at him personally, Carrick was equally measured. “I don’t see it really. I see the things that I need to see. I don’t look for it. It doesn’t really help in any way. I care about what the supporters think, I care about what it feels like in the stadium — I genuinely don’t take any notice of anything else. I know this job, I know what it brings, I know what we need to do to be better.”