Carrick insists he needs no assurances after United keep faith despite eight-game winless run

Michael Carrick has declared he needs no reassurances from Manchester United’s leadership after the club opted to retain him as manager despite a winless run of eight games that has included heavy defeats to Como and Bournemouth.

United’s powerbrokers held talks this week before deciding to keep the 45-year-old in charge for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, giving him the opportunity to reverse the club’s alarming slump. Carrick, who had denied he was saying goodbye to the Old Trafford crowd when he walked off the pitch on Sunday, said he fully expected to remain in his post.

“No, I am here to do my job and do my job for the team,” Carrick said. “So, I’m not surprised, no. I don’t need any assurances from anyone. I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities, I understand what comes with that.”

Chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox appointed Carrick on an interim basis in January before handing him a two-year contract in the summer. Should results fail to improve, the club could look at alternatives including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte, though for now Carrick retains their backing.

Despite the poor run of form, Carrick struck a defiant tone about the mood inside the dressing room. “I have to say, the boys are hungry,” he said. “We’re hurting because we haven’t won enough football games, but there’s an intensity, there’s a bit of an edge, there’s a disappointment, there’s a hunger to do better, for sure.”

On the injury front, Carrick offered cautious optimism over Kobbie Mainoo, with the England midfielder returning to training ahead of the Chelsea fixture. However, striker Benjamin Sesko faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines. “Unfortunately Ben is out for a long period of time,” Carrick confirmed. “We had to go through the process, the healing process to see how it would react — we’re still working through it. Not to have him available, it’s obviously a blow. Kobbie did a little bit of training, he’s back and around the group, which is a positive.”