Carrick tells United fans to 'blame me' as sack speculation dismissed as 'ridiculous'

Michael Carrick has told Manchester United supporters to direct their frustration squarely at him following a miserable start to the season, with the Red Devils picking up just four points from their opening four Premier League matches ahead of Sunday’s visit to Craven Cottage.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Carrick was unequivocal about where the buck stops. “It’s my responsibility, I’m fine with that,” he said. “Blame me, it’s no problem, but it’s not about blaming people. It’s about finding solutions. It’s a whole collective thing.”

The pressure on Carrick intensified midweek when United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle, squandering a two-goal lead before losing 3-2 at home to Brighton. That defeat came just four days after a controversial loss to Manchester City in the derby, leaving the club with little to show from a bruising opening stretch.

Despite the mounting scrutiny, Carrick was dismissive of suggestions that his job could be under immediate threat, calling such speculation “ridiculous”. “I think that’ll be a lot longer than one or two games of results,” he said. “In terms of future and ownership and how long I’ve got in the job — it’s ridiculous to think that way in a position that I’m in, that’s just not on the radar.”

Carrick insisted he is clear on what the club demands of him. “I understand what we need to achieve and where we need to be as a football club for the owners, what they expect, for the supporters as much as anything — I get all that. It’s two or three games that we haven’t had certain results, and two or three games too many because I really hate losing, but that doesn’t mean that the world caves in.”

On the injury front, Carrick offered cautious optimism over Luke Shaw and Carlos Baleba, saying both players have a “chance” to feature against Fulham. Baleba has yet to make his United debut since his £70 million arrival from Brighton in August due to an ankle problem.