Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, under pressure after a woeful run of results, said on Thursday that he was “here to do my job”, insisting he needed “no assurances” over his future at Old Trafford.
asserted
he → say → Trafford
Carrick also said he was unsurprised to still be in charge and gave his backing to United captain Bruno Fernandes.
asserted
he → say → Fernandes
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list → face → Mbappe
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4Bayern → celebrate → win
Portugal midfielder Fernandes was left on the bench for last week’s loss at home to Bournemouth following his criticism of Carrick’s tactics in a 4-1 thrashing by Como.
asserted
Fernandes → leave → Como
“He’s the one that’s kind of led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he’ll continue to do that,” Carrick told reporters on Thursday.
asserted
Carrick → ’ → Thursday
Sunday’s 3-0 humbling loss at home to Bournemouth left the English giants one point above the Premier League relegation zone.
asserted
loss → leave → zone
The 20-time English champions have won just two of 12 matches in all competitions this season, with a return of seven points from eight league games representing their worst start to a league season in 40 years.
asserted
return → win → years
Carrick was widely expected to be sacked this week, but he remains in charge after a show of support from the club’s hierarchy.
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he → expect → hierarchy
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match away to Chelsea, the former United and England midfielder was in a defiant mood.
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midfielder → speak → mood
Asked if he was still surprised to be in post, Carrick said: “No, I am here to do the best for the team, and I am desperate to make us better and improve things, so I’m not surprised, no.”
asserted
I → ask → things
Carrick “doesn’t need assurances” from Manchester United, he said.
asserted
he → need → United
Carrick was equally adamant he did not require public backing from the United hierarchy.
asserted
he → require → hierarchy
“I don’t need assurances from anyone,” he said.
asserted
he → need → anyone
“I totally get the position, I get the job, the responsibility, I get what comes with that.”
asserted
what → get → that
Questioned on Fernandes’s position, Carrick said leaving him on the bench against Bournemouth was a “decision for the game”.
asserted
leaving → question → game
“That’s it.
asserted
That → ’ → ?
Bruno is fully committed to this football club.
asserted
Bruno → commit → club
I’ve got no issues with that; we move forward.
asserted
we → get → that
We’re looking forward to the game at the weekend now.
asserted
We → look → weekend
Carrick appears to have the backing of the United faithful, being warmly applauded by fans as he made his way down the tunnel following the defeat by Bournemouth.
asserted
he → appear → Bournemouth
Moments later, a chorus of boos erupted as the players left the pitch, as supporters made clear where they think the blame lies for United’s poor performances.
asserted
blame → erupt → performances
Carrick was handed a two-year deal in May after inspiring a revival as caretaker boss that saw United finish third in the Premier League and return to the Champions League after struggling under manager Ruben Amorim.
uncertain
United → hand → Amorim
But results have been so bad this season that former United captain Gary Neville, who played alongside Carrick at Old Trafford, said on Thursday that “sometimes a manager needs sacking for their own good”.
asserted
manager → play → good
Carrick, however, was adamant he would not walk away from his job, saying: “I’ve said it before, I care about what the supporters think.
asserted
supporters → walk → what
I care about what we give them, and what we offer them, and what they see.
asserted
they → care → what
“I know this job, I know what it brings, I know what we need to do really to be better.
asserted
we → know → what
I don’t need anyone else to tell me anything else.”
asserted
anyone → need → anything
This season’s drastic decline is an all-too-familiar story for United supporters, who last witnessed a Premier League title triumph 13 years ago under Alex Ferguson.
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who → witness → Ferguson
But Carrick insisted his much-criticised players felt the sting of poor results every bit as much as the fans.
asserted
players → insist → fans
“The boys are hungry,” he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
“We’re hurting because we haven’t won enough football games.
asserted
we → hurt → games
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