Michael Carrick questioned the commitment of his Manchester United players after they slumped to a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League. The head coach also shot back at criticism of his tactics from Bruno Fernandes, suggesting the defeat was down to the players not running hard enough and not how he set them out to press.
Carrick's Anger After Champions League Humbling
In an extraordinary press conference after the Champions League humbling in Como, Carrick cut an angry figure as he apologised again for the performance and said he "didn't like" what he saw from his players. United were 1-0 down at half-time, at which point Carrick made a double change, but it made no difference as his team collapsed after the break, with Joshua Zirkzee scoring a late consolation.
Carrick went over to the away end to apologise at the end of the game before criticising his side.
"We might win, we might lose, but the way we went about it tonight, I wouldn't say everyone, but the way we went about it in some ways tonight wasn't acceptable. And I just wanted to let the fans know that I feel for them, for sure," he said.
"It wasn't just the goals, if I'm totally honest. It was the manner and the way we played at times, in the way we went about it, that was the difficult thing to watch for me."
Carrick Hits Back at Fernandes' Tactical Criticism
Fernandes had questioned the way Carrick and his staff set the team up in a post-match TV interview, but Carrick was in no mood to accept the criticism and shot back with his own views on why the team had failed to perform.
"We actually half-pressed man-to-man the second half and then conceded a goal from that," said Carrick. "And there's a little bit on whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don't run, and you don't run forward, and you don't run back, you ain't going to win."
Players' Commitment Questioned
After questioning their effort levels, Carrick was asked if the players were still playing for him.
"It's not about playing for me, it's about playing for this football club," he said. "It's the responsibility that comes with being in the position; I'm responsible for the football club and the supporters. I'm giving my best, absolute best all the time, I care about it. My whole life's wrapped around it. I genuinely give everything that I possibly can."
Quizzed on whether his players were doing the same, Carrick said: "I'd like to think so. I didn't like what I saw tonight, though."
