Michael Carrick has insisted he is still enjoying managing Manchester United after Jamie Carragher said he wants to be "put out of his misery" by being sacked.
Carrick is desperate for a win having clung onto his job following crisis talks with the club's hierarchy earlier in the week. United sit 16th in the Premier League, having taken just seven points from their opening eight matches - the club's worst start to a league campaign since 1986/87.
Pressure mounts after poor start
The dreadful start, which has included just two wins in 12 in all competitions, prompted United to consider replacements, including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte. It leaves Carrick in dire need of victory when they play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in Saturday's early kick-off.
The 45-year-old held a clear-the-air meeting with Bruno Fernandes after dropping him for the 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth last weekend as a response for his criticism of the tactics against Como. And he is relishing the chance to put things right against Chelsea, rejecting Carragher's assertion that he wants "to be put out of his misery" with a sacking.
Carrick responds to critics
"Honestly, there's not a hardest thing about it," Carrick told TNT Sports. "It's a great position to be in. I love being in this position, I love the responsibility and having an element of control of trying to make a difference, and trying to guide this club in a certain direction."
"I still enjoy it. I know people question that at times, but I certainly do enjoy it. I still enjoyed this week as much as ever because that's when we've got to dig deep as a group and see sticking together as part of it."
"It doesn’t change the motivation, and it doesn't change what we want to achieve. We can still be close to flipping things and moving forward."
Carragher's prediction and Carrick's future
Gary Neville was convinced that Carrick would be sacked following the defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford. His Sky Sports colleague Carragher went even further, saying Carrick would welcome the decision, just months after landing the role on a permanent basis.
"I think he can never say publicly, but I think Michael Carrick would want to be put out of his misery. I really do," Carragher said on Stick to Football. "The thought of going into that training ground now... and trying to do that team talk before Chelsea, when you know the players just aren't having it at all."
"Those players know Michael Carrick's not going to be there in two or three weeks. He knows it, they know it, everybody knows it."
Carrick met with director of football Jason Wilcox on Monday knowing that the club has been exploring their replacement options. He was given a stay of execution but is under no illusions about his perilous position.
"I don't need any assurances for anything, really," Carrick added. "I totally understand what’s needed here, so I don’t need any assurances from anybody. I’m just focused on winning games, and winning this one on Saturday."
He added: "I know that, I know what this role is, I know what the club needs. When you're in it, it's tunnel vision in terms of constantly trying to improve things."
"We know it's not been good enough… It’s always something that can flip, and we're the ones that control that. That's the beauty of it, for me. We’re in control of it, we can do something about it. That's what we're trying to do."
