Michael Carrick has suggested Manchester United will look to strengthen in the January transfer window after the club's transfer strategy was called into question by Lisandro Martinez.
United invested heavily in midfield during the summer, spending £155 million on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba after finishing third last season. However, the failure to address a lack of depth at left-back and striker has drawn scrutiny, particularly after a sluggish start that has seen the team win only two of their first nine matches in all competitions.
Martinez outburst and apology
The criticism came to a head after United's midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid, when Martinez launched into a furious tirade at Director of Football Jason Wilcox for failing to strengthen the squad. Martinez has since apologised and been fined for the outburst.
Carrick, speaking to Sky Sports, hinted that the club would heed the defender's advice and look to bring in fresh players when the transfer market reopens.
'When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it,' Carrick said. 'Whatever that looks like at this stage, we don't quite know. But without doubt, there's opportunity because the transfer window is open.'
'So we'll definitely be looking at that and trying to come out stronger in whatever way that looks like.'
Carrick rejects lack of ambition claims
In his post-match interview, Martinez also suggested the club's hierarchy lacked ambition, but Carrick pushed back against that suggestion.
'We're striving to get back to the top,' he added. 'We've been there before, repeatedly. We've had a bit of a spell when we haven't quite been there. For all of us, we're striving to get to the top and we're building. We're acknowledging that we're building and we're coming from behind.'
'That's pretty obvious, it's factual. We're all pushing to get there. No one more so than me. I'm desperate to get this club to where we feel we belong. We've got to earn that and that comes from a lot of different things. We're all pushing in the same direction to try and achieve that.'
Leeds test and Carrick's future
United face Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, but Carrick insisted he is not fearful for his job should results not improve.
'It's not something that I think about,' he said. 'I'm here to win football matches, but winning football matches short term with an eye on developing the club and pushing the club to be great.'
'Again, in terms of results and winning things, it's a great club anyway, but on the pitch, we need to be great. We haven't quite hit that level in recent times, and I understand that. But I don't think about myself in my own situation, about how much time or what it looks like for me. There's no individual that's more important than this football club.'
