Michael Carrick's future as Manchester United manager remains uncertain after a chaotic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, and he gave a tense post-match interview with Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison.
United scored two late goals to earn a point at Old Trafford, with substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu netting in injury time. The home side appeared to be heading towards another defeat before the late comeback, which followed the 3-2 win over Roma on Tuesday.
Pressure mounts after eight-game winless run
United sit 18th in the table and are winless in eight Premier League games. Club officials Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox were in attendance at Old Trafford and have a decision to make over the two-week international break. Carrick has survived previous crisis talks and expects to continue as manager, but the pressure was evident in his exchange with Davison.
During the interview, Davison asked: "What do you expect to happen over the next few weeks? You've been asked time and again about your future? I know you have said that you walking away was the best for the club, you'd probably do it."
Carrick replied: "It's not going to happen, no."
When Davison pressed on whether there would be conversation about his position, Carrick responded: "Is there?" and "Would you?" before adding: "You know the situation, we haven't won enough games. But I expect to move forward with things we've been working on, showing a lot of the good from today tighten up a few mistakes and win some football matches."
Carrick rejects relegation talk
Carrick also dismissed the notion that United are in a relegation battle, having taken eight points from 10 matches this season. "We're in November," he said bluntly. "I don't like this situation where we are and where we're at. But we can do something about it."
United were poor defensively, with mistakes from Senne Lammens, Diogo Dalot and Leny Yoro helping Villa on their way. But there was fight to earn a point, with substitutes Dorgu and Zirkzee making an impact.
"There have been too many [goals conceded]. It's pretty clear. We know that. It's something we have to put right," Carrick admitted.
He added: "I liked the character, the quality of football. I thought we had most of the game, attacked their box really well, we had a lot of shots, chances coming from a place when you're 2-0 down and you haven't had a good run of results. The boys played some really good results, pressed well. I thought a lot of it was where we'd want it. It doesn't look like that now because the goals go in and make a difference in games. If you look at it from an overall perspective, there's a lot of character in the boys."
