Michael Carrick, the head coach of Manchester United, has supported his players ahead of their match against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, believing they can find success during this challenging period. Manchester United has only won two of their eight matches across all competitions this season and has earned just six points in six Premier League games, marking their worst start since 1986.
Current Situation of Manchester United
Carrick commented on the current state of the team: "Of course, we hoped to achieve better results and had higher expectations, but right now we are in a position we must face. I knew beforehand that this would be a challenging period. Football and building something takes time, and we must overcome difficulties."
The coach also referred to the existing criticisms and pressures, stating: "When things are not going well, there is a real feeling from the fans that everything is falling apart and needs to change. But that is not our mindset."
Opportunities in the UEFA Champions League
Carrick believes that the UEFA Champions League could be an opportunity to turn things around. Referring to his team's 4-0 victory against Sabah in their first match of the competition, he added: "The fans desperately need success, and we must give them something to be happy about. We need to embrace challenges to reach where we want to go. I firmly believe we can get through this situation."
Carrick, who was appointed as interim head coach in January, managed to lead the team to the UEFA Champions League in the second half of the 2025-26 season with their impressive performance, which led to his selection as the permanent head coach. However, he now feels increased pressure as the team sits in thirteenth place in the Premier League with poor results.
He said about this: "It depends on how you define pressure. We know what we want and what capabilities we have. We want to be part of a success, and there is nothing negative about that. At times, we may face challenges, but to achieve success, we must overcome obstacles."
In their last match, Manchester United drew 1-1 against Tottenham, conceding an equalizer in the 92nd minute; however, Carrick is confident in his team's abilities, stating: "There are very fine lines. The last three goals we conceded in the league were all avoidable. But I have complete faith in the team's abilities, and I know we can win and take many games."
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