The under-pressure head coach opened his Friday press conference with an emotional address before taking questions about his future and the growing criticism of his tactics. United are preparing to face Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Carrick remaining in charge despite mounting uncertainty.
“Recently, we haven't had a good time. I think that's pretty obvious. So I totally accept what we're going through at the moment,” Carrick said.
He contrasted the current struggles with a previous five-month period of relative success, admitting the latest performances had fallen well below the standards he expected.
“Wednesday was a bad night. It was a bad night for a lot of reasons. It hurt a lot,” he said. “It obviously hurt me to see us play that way, to see how the game panned out. As I said after the game, it was really unacceptable.”
Carrick also acknowledged the disappointment felt by supporters who had travelled to watch the Como defeat, saying their time and money deserved a team they could be proud of.
The manager’s message centred on accountability, sacrifice and the responsibility that comes with representing United. He warned that the club’s past achievements did not guarantee future success.
“I'm not entitled to be here. Entitlement cannot be at this football club. We're not entitled to win,” Carrick said.
“We've won in the past, we've got an incredible history, but that doesn't mean that you're entitled to just win. I'm fully aware of that. It takes hard work, takes a lot of sacrifice.”
He insisted the squad must rediscover its identity and show greater commitment to one another, adding that Manchester United had to be bigger than any individual, including the manager.
“We've had it, we've kind of lost our way a little bit if I'm totally honest, and we will get it back,” he said. “I'm totally convinced we'll get it back.”
Carrick’s authority has been questioned after captain Bruno Fernandes criticised the team’s cautious approach against Como. Fernandes said the decision not to press opponents man-to-man belonged to the coaching staff, while defender Lisandro Martinez has also voiced frustration in recent weeks.
Asked whether he had spoken to Fernandes or might remove him as captain, Carrick did not give a direct answer. He did, however, deny that the dressing room was divided.
With Bournemouth next, Carrick faces an immediate test of whether his words can translate into a better performance. He said he was prepared to shoulder responsibility, but made clear that players must also live up to the demands of the club.