That’s not going to happen – Michael Carrick will not walk away from Man Utd job
Stoppage-time goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu saw United rally for an unlikely point in a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa.
Michael Carrick insisted he would not walk away from Manchester United after Sunday’s wild 4-4 draw with Aston Villa ensured his side would spend the international window languishing in the relegation zone.
Stoppage-time goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu saw United rally for an unlikely point on a day when they started both halves by allowing Villa to storm into two-goal leads before coming back.
The point means United sit 18th in the table, doing little to ease the intense scrutiny on Carrick given they are now eight league games without a win – a club record in the Premier League era – with their only victory of the season back in August against newly-promoted Ipswich.
Asked on Sky Sports if he would quit if he felt it was the right thing to do for the club, Carrick said: “That’s not going to happen.”
Then, speaking in his post-match press conference, Carrick expressed confidence his side could still turn things around this season.
“One hundred per cent,” he said. “I think there’s more than enough. Goals change games and we’ve got to deal with it and it’s something we have to improve on drastically. But there’s more than enough, we’re just making it too difficult for ourselves at the moment in certain times…
“I’m quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in. We’ve just got to win games.”
United were 2-0 down inside five minutes as Alysson and Nicolas Jackson pounced on defensive errors, but Bruno Fernandes got one back from the penalty spot before Youri Tielemans scored against his former club.
Having worked so hard to get level, United conceded twice in the opening seven minutes of the second half to John McGinn’s penalty and Leon Goretzka’s first Villa goal, with many fans having left before their second comeback of the afternoon.
“Football is about moments, football is about what happens in both boxes in the end,” Carrick added.
“Take (away) the moments and the totally avoidable goals we’ve given away, I actually thought we played pretty well, we were the better team for the most part and I’m disappointed we haven’t won the game.”
Unai Emery, among the candidates touted as a potential successor to Carrick, was visibly frustrated at conceding the late equaliser.
“The referee added six minutes, I think the match was done…” Emery said. “I am angry of course. How to accept to lose in the last six minutes with two goals is difficult…
“I’m angry not with the players, angry with the situation. You are winning in the last six minutes, winning in extra time, and we lost the opportunity to have two points more.”
Dorgu headed in from a corner in a crowded penalty box and Emery admitted goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, hugely impressive since joining this summer, still has work to do.
“It is a process, it’s a good example when you concede, it’s (about) adaptation to the Premier League for Zion,” he added.
“They are pushing, they are disturbing the goalkeeper. In some countries, in other leagues, they are not permitting it.
“Here yes, and we have to continue analysing, having experiences and trying to avoid these situations.”