Michael Carrick says he is 'loving' the pressure at Manchester United and believes he should be given the same patience as Mikel Arteta at Arsenal. The Red Devils have won just one of their opening six league games, a stark contrast to the form that secured a Champions League spot and a permanent deal for Carrick at the end of last season.
Carrick embraces the challenge
Speaking ahead of the Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid, Carrick said: "I love this part, of sometimes when it's not quite going for you, you see who's really there, you see within the group, the players, the squad, the club, who's really there and who wants to be here for the long term."
"[You see who is] really attached to it and [who it] really means something [to]. The supporters are there, they're desperate for it, and we've got to give them something. I think you've got to embrace the challenges to get to where you want to be. We're right there now in the middle of it, but totally believe that we'll work through it."
Arteta example cited
Carrick also referenced Arteta's long-term project at Arsenal, which has seen the Gunners challenge for the title after a slow start under the Spaniard. "Building something takes a journey and you've got to overcome things," said Carrick. "I'm sitting here with a coach that's been here a long, long time and I'm sure there's times when there's been waves when it hasn't quite gone to plan."
"They've had huge successes and winning leagues and being around the late stages of the Champions League, but there've been times when it hasn't gone quite to plan."
"We've got teams in our league that have had success, but it hasn't necessarily all been in one direction and I understand when it's not going too well, there's a real clamour, and a real feeling of it's a disaster, and everything needs to be changed."
"It pains me to say, but the one that won the league in our country last season has been there for a long period of time," Carrick added. "It's seven years, and the first two seasons were, correct me if I'm wrong, maybe eighth or seventh."
"I think he's done an incredible job, Mikel, and that's another example. We're talking about Sir Alex and Diego Simeone who've gone on for a lot longer than that and built something incredibly special at both football clubs."
"It doesn't always take time, it depends on the situation, but more or less to get to where you want to be, sustainable and consistent, it's going to take a bit of time to build that foundation."
