Lammens backs Carrick as United dressing room unity questioned after dismal run

Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has broken ranks with two of his senior teammates to publicly defend manager Michael Carrick, insisting the dressing room is fully behind the under-pressure head coach despite a wretched start to the season. United have won just two of their 11 fixtures across all competitions since returning to the Champions League.

The show of support from Lammens comes after a turbulent week in which both Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes voiced public concerns. Martinez directed his frustration at director of football Jason Wilcox, arguing the club failed to back Carrick sufficiently in the summer transfer window, leaving the squad stretched for European competition. Fernandes went further, questioning the coaching staff’s tactical decisions following a 4-1 humiliation at Como.

“For me personally, I think it [the dressing room] is [behind Carrick],” Lammens said. “Of course, the people at home can’t see that, so we need to also try to look like that when we are on the pitch at the weekend, but I can assure you that we’re doing everything we can and we’re all together behind the coach, as a staff, players, front office.”

The Belgian goalkeeper acknowledged the squad’s collective shortcomings but was keen to stress togetherness as the route back to form. “Everyone knows, of course, they have to do better, but I think we are united and we are trying to get better as a team and together.”

Asked specifically about Fernandes’ tactical critique, Lammens reflected on the contrast with last season’s more cohesive performances. “Last season I felt like, playing-wise, maybe we played sometimes better this season, but last season everything just clicked and went the right way for us,” he said. “We struggled as a team together when they pressed us, but we didn’t concede that many goals, and then as a counter team we did really well.”

Lammens suggested the club’s attempt to evolve their style in pre-season may have contributed to their current inconsistency, while pointing to a loss of the defensive resilience that defined their previous campaign. “I think we need a little bit more like last season — the way we fought together, even when it wasn’t going the best, and just trying to fight as a team and defend as a team. I think that’s probably something we need to try to get back to.”

Fernandes had been explicit in his post-match comments after the Como defeat, questioning the staff’s decision to abandon a man-to-man press and the space it left exposed. With scrutiny on Carrick intensifying, Lammens’ intervention offers the manager a rare public vote of confidence — though results will ultimately determine how long that backing counts for anything.