Michael Carrick insists he feels fully backed by Manchester United's board and has dismissed Erik ten Hag's claim that the club's hierarchy is 'toxic'. The United boss was responding to questions about his position as his side prepares to face Como in the Champions League.
Ten Hag's Claims Dismissed
Former United manager Ten Hag made the assertion after revealing the club had broken promises of loyalty to him at the end of his tenure. The Dutchman was sacked in October 2024, just months after being awarded a new contract.
Asked if that raised a red flag for his own position, Carrick said: "Not for me. That's Erik's opinion. I don't know the details or ins and outs of that. It's wrong of me to comment or get involved because it was nothing to do with me at that stage."
Stability and Clear Plan
The 45-year-old praised the environment he works in, adding: "As a football club, the way we're working, behind the scenes and away from it, results dictate a lot of the feeling and a lot of the energy and the positivity or the not-so-positive around the place. Within our walls as a group and a team, we're pretty composed but driven. We're pretty stable, we've got to think calmly, we've got to keep our emotions and direct them in the right way."
He highlighted the importance of clear communication: "Certain conversations that we have that we're really clear with as a football club, with Jason [Wilcox], with Omar [Berrada], with the owners and down to the players. It's really important we pull in the same direction and there's a real balance between that fire and desire to make things happen but you've got to do it from a platform of stability and having a clear plan."
Winning is What Matters
Carrick said he needs no external reassurance. "I don't need any reassurance," he said. "It's pretty clear. I know the role. I know the responsibilities. I don't need anyone else to tell me that or when it's going well or needs to be better. I know that myself, I know the realities. I've got no problem with that."
He concluded: "There's not much I can elaborate on that. We've got to win football games for everything to flow and fit into place. That's the great thing, we can do something about it."
Asked directly if he feels backed, he added: "Yeah, why wouldn't I? I'm in this position, I have a really good relationship with everyone at the football club. There's really no issues and no problems with that side. We've got to win games of football and that's what we're striving to do."
