Carrick vows to stay as United boss despite worst league start in club history

Michael Carrick confirmed he expects to remain Manchester United manager for Tuesday’s Champions League fixture against Roma, speaking after a 2-0 home defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge left United with the worst start to a Premier League season in the club’s history.

Asked directly whether he believed he would still be in charge for the European tie, Carrick gave a single-word answer: “Yes.”

Second-half goals from Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer settled the contest, despite United having looked the more dangerous side in the opening 45 minutes. The result is United’s fourth league defeat of the campaign, leaving them 16th in the table with just one win from nine matches and at risk of dropping into the relegation zone before the weekend is out.

“We didn’t get going second half — we should’ve been up in the first half,” Carrick said. “Everything was as positive as we could’ve hoped for. We looked really dangerous. Found a way of unravelling in the second half. Bad goal to concede and then the penalty, we’re right up against it. The game turned on its head.”

United’s task was made significantly harder when Lisandro Martínez was sent off after collecting two yellow cards in quick succession — the first for a lunge on Rogers, the second for a foul on Wesley Fofana that gifted Chelsea their penalty. Carrick did not acknowledge the 28-year-old as he left the pitch, remaining focused on his notebook.

Chelsea also had two goals disallowed, both initially scored by Estêvão on his first start of the season, underlining the hosts’ dominance after the interval.

Rogers, named man of the match, acknowledged a difficult opening period before Chelsea asserted themselves. “First half was tough — they played well,” the England winger said. “We really stamped our authority in the second half. It was a massive conscious effort to go again and we deserved the win.”

Carrick also addressed the friendly rivalry between Rogers and Palmer, both of whom have been central to Chelsea’s attacking threat this season, with the manager noting that United’s own lack of cutting edge in front of goal ultimately proved the difference.