Carrick insists Old Trafford wave 'wasn't a farewell' after United's 3-0 collapse to Bournemouth

Michael Carrick acknowledged he may be dismissed as Manchester United head coach after a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford left the club in the midst of their worst start to a season in 40 years, but insisted his wave to supporters at full time was not a farewell.

The result extended a damaging run that included a 4-1 thrashing by Como in midweek, and Bournemouth fans taunted Carrick with chants of “sacked in the morning” throughout the afternoon. United supporters, by contrast, serenaded him as he walked down the tunnel — a gesture he said he felt deeply, even amid the uncertainty surrounding his future.

“It wasn’t a farewell from me,” Carrick said. “I will see what happens. I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. I am carrying on as normal. I love this place. I’ll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club, whatever decision is made on anything really.”

Carrick revealed he had only a brief post-match conversation with chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox — “nothing out of the ordinary” — and said he was not expecting any particular outcome from those discussions.

He was keen to defend the players’ commitment despite the alarming sequence of results. “There’s a lot of emotion in the changing room right now, there’s a lot of disappointment, there’s a lot of the boys quite hurt, disappointed,” he said. “It’s not like they don’t care, or they want to be in this position. The ones I’ve spoken to — I’ve not spoke to everyone individually — it’s affecting them a lot.”

Carrick described his feelings at the final whistle as “mixed emotions”, saying the supporters’ backing meant a great deal to him personally even as the pressure on his position intensifies. United’s run of heavy defeats has raised serious questions about the club’s direction, with Carrick having taken interim charge during a turbulent period at Old Trafford.