Michael Carrick after Manchester United's woeful defeat at home to Bournemouth - "It's a tough situation"
· Yahoo Sports
The reaction from Manchester United manager Michael Carrick said it all, as the beleaguered head coach watched his side make big mistakes and they deservedly lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth on Sunday.
At the final whistle United's fans sang the name of Carrick as the TV cameras panned to the hierarchy in the directors box, and it seems like they may soon make a decision to change their manager.
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Michael Carrick looks very emotional as he walks around the pitch at Old Trafford. Manchester United fans sing his name loud and proud. He pats his heart and waves. He looks totally devastated. #MUFC beaten 3-0 by Bournemouth. The fans then turn on the players and boo them. Wow.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) October 25, 2026
United have now won just one of their opening eight games of the Premier League season as this mauling at home to Bournemouth followed a chastening midweek defeat at Como in the Champions League.
The next six league games for United all look tough, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Brentford, Newcastle and Coventry City to come, plus Roma and Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League.
Here's the latest Michael Carrick reaction from Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick reaction
On his thoughts on the performance against Bournemouth: "Leny slipped for one goal. I thought it was a dubious free kick against Ayden really, I didn't think there was anyone close enough to him for the free kick for the first goal. But I will have to see that again. Leny's slip is unfortunate. It happens. He's got a huge future, Leny. He's a fantastic player and he's made a mistake today and he's feeling it. He shouldn't because he's going to be a top, top player. Mistakes happens, unfortunately it was one of those where it wasn't even a mistake it was just a slip. Then the third goal when I thought the next goal, the fans were there waiting for us to get something in the game, second half especially, if we had got one chance, one goal second half, they would have been right there with us. We just couldn't find that moment and the third goal is a killer goal. From that time it was what it was. It was pretty obvious that it was strange mixed emotion in the finish of the game. If I am totally honest. It wasn't a nice way to end the game."
On if he saw any sign of the resilience needed from his players: "It was a tough day for them. We went into the game being rocked a little bit. You could feel that on the pitch. They kept going until the end. They are really disappointed in there. They are really hurt in there. It is not a nice feeling when you see that disappointment. It is what it is. You just have to accept it and that is the situation we are in at the moment."
On how hard it has been for him with the Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes situation to manage, on top of expectations at Man United: "I have to say it is really difficult for me to have a day like this at this football club and feel the emotion and the dynamics of what it was like today. Not for me personally but for Manchester United. It was really mixed. Of course I feel a lot of responsibility. I've been at the club a long time. In the position I'm in I feel a lot of responsibility. It hurts an awful lot to see us going through this at this moment in time."
On leaving Bruno Fernandes out for 'footballing reasons' and if he thought he could have brought him off the bench: "There are always times in games when you try and make decisions to change the course of play. Trying to make a difference at times. Those were the decisions we made today."
On the scenes at the end where fans sung his name and were cheered, and the players booed and the hierarchy heckled, it felt like a farewell from him and how does he feel about his situation: "It wasn't from me [farewell]. It was really mixed emotions. I'm feeling for the players, for my group of players I'm really feeling it for them because they're really going through a tough spell. Some of it we can help ourselves, some of it the situation unravels. The boys are feeling it at the moment. Mixed emotions obviously for the supporters to respond in that way and to have that connection with the supporters in the moment we are in. Really mixed emotions and I need some time to digest that but I certainly appreciate their support. The situation is where we are at. We haven't had results and we haven't had performances that have been good enough."
On if he expects to have conversations in the coming days about the situation: "Listen, it's a tough situation. There is no hiding from it. What it looks like and what is next, I really don't know. I will always do what is best for this football club. I've said it all along and I don't change that now. I love what I do. I love the position I'm in. I feel the responsibility. But we will have to wait and see."
Harry Maguire reaction
"It wasn't good enough," Maguire told Sky Sports when asked to assess the performance. "Disappointed to give a goal away early, give another set play away and if you concede first in the Premier League it makes it difficult for yourselves. Obviously we made a mistake for the second and made it hard for ourselves. We didn't perform well enough as individuals and as a team and we didn't deserve anything from the game."
On what is the missing element at the club: "It's not clicking at the moment. We know the results haven't been good enough and the performances in the last week haven't been good enough as well. We have to work hard. It's a long season ahead, it's still early on in this season. We've got to find something. You've got to find something within yourself, question yourself, look in the mirror. That is the most important thing. Take responsibility yourself. Think what you can do more, what you can give to the team a bit more. If every player does that we will come through this difficult spell."
On Michael Carrick being clapped off and the players being booed off and the sense of responsibility for Carrick and the situation: "Of course. If you don't feel responsible for that you have to look after your own performances. First and foremost look in the mirror and take accountability, take responsibility. This is a huge club to play for and every single day you have to prove to everyone why you are wearing this shirt and why you are wearing this badge. At the moment we are not doing enough as players. Michael was here last year and turned our season on its head last season, we played brilliant football and won many football matches. This season we haven't performed well enough as individuals."
On if United's players need to have a meeting to address things: "If those conversations happen it will remain private. Everyone at this football club we know it's not good enough. We want to improve, we want to do more, do better, get better results for the club and the fans. At the moment it is nowhere near good enough so something needs to change."