Michael Carrick has described the last few days at Manchester United as a "fresh start", but his position at Old Trafford remains under serious threat after a poor start to the season. United have won only two of their first 10 games in all competitions, and Carrick has admitted the team is "not getting too carried away" despite a draw at Leeds.
A Slight Improvement, But Bare Minimum
Last week brought a marginally more positive run for United, with a 1-1 draw at Leeds at Elland Road following a better display in Madrid. Carrick praised his players' commitment and intensity, noting they stood up well to a physical test and showed no signs of defeatism.
However, those traits are the bare minimum expected, and the team's attacking output remains a concern. United created an expected goals (xG) figure of 0.98 in Madrid and 0.92 at Leeds, numbers that are merely adequate but not enough to turn the season around.
Carrick's "Fresh Start" Message
Speaking after the Leeds game, Carrick said: "We're not getting too carried away because we haven't won the game, but I think if you keep doing the right things for the right reasons, then you get what you deserve in the end." He added that the performance was "a bit of a fresh start" and showed the players are "desperate to do well for each other" and appreciate playing for the club.
He acknowledged the toughness of the match, saying: "That's a tough game today, I have to say, that's a tough game the way they play, and it can find you out pretty quickly, and the boys stood up to it really well."
Quality Needed in Coming Fixtures
Carrick needs more than spirit and togetherness to secure his future. This week brings a Champions League trip to face Como, which concludes a run of three difficult away games, followed by a home match against Bournemouth, who have just one Premier League win all season.
If United are still being praised only for their effort in a week's time, Carrick's job will be in jeopardy. Over the next six days, he must add more quality to the mix to prove this really is the fresh start he wants it to be.
