Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens has insisted the dressing room is fully behind under-pressure manager Michael Carrick, despite recent public criticism from key players Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes. The club have won just two of their 11 games in all competitions this season, following their return to the Champions League.
Pressure Mounts After Poor Run
Carrick's position has come under scrutiny after Martinez and Fernandes both voiced their frustrations following defeats to Atletico Madrid and a 4-1 loss to Como. Martinez criticised director of football Jason Wilcox, suggesting the club did not do enough in the summer transfer window to support Carrick, leaving the squad short for the European campaign.
Fernandes, meanwhile, directed his frustration at Carrick and his coaching staff after the Como defeat. Speaking to TNT Sports, he said: "It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence."
Fernandes Questions Tactics
When asked if he believed the manager got his tactics wrong, Fernandes said: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."
Carrick was questioned about whether he would strip Fernandes of the captaincy following the Como defeat, but he declined to confirm any decision, saying he would do what he felt was right for the football club.
Lammens Backs Carrick
Ahead of a must-win match against Bournemouth this weekend, Lammens has come out in defence of Carrick. Speaking to Sky Sports, the goalkeeper said: "For me personally, I think it [the dressing room] is [behind Carrick].
"Of course, the people at home can't see that, so we need to also try to look like that when we are on the pitch in the weekend, but I can assure you that we're doing everything we can and we're all together behind the coach, as a staff, players, front office.
"Everyone knows, of course, they have to do better, but I think we are united and we are trying to get better as a team and together."
Lammens was also asked about Fernandes' comments on tactics and the team's struggles this season. He said: "Last season I felt like, playing-wise, maybe we played sometimes better this season, but last season everything just clicked and went the right way for us.
"We struggled as a team together when they pressed us, but we didn't concede that many goals, and then I think as a counter team a bit more last season we did really well, but you also know, I think everybody knew that we had to improve as well from that, that teams were going to change the way they played against us."
Lammens added: "I think we need a little bit more like last season, the way we fought together, even when it wasn't going the best and just trying to fight as a team and defend as a team, I think that's probably something we need to try to get back to."
