Michael Carrick has insisted he is embracing the pressure of managing Manchester United, describing the challenging period as an opportunity to assess the character and determination within his squad ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid.
The United head coach spoke to journalists in Spain ahead of Tuesday’s encounter, addressing the team’s recent struggles, injury concerns and the importance of responding positively to adversity.
Carrick confirmed that Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw would miss the match after picking up injuries during Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur.
“Yeah, they’ve not travelled. Both picked up issues in the game on Saturday against Tottenham Hotspur, so we’re kind of working through that to see what that looks like,” Carrick said.
“At the moment, they’re not ready for the game tomorrow.”
Despite the absences, Carrick dismissed suggestions that United were short of players, insisting the situation had also created opportunities for younger members of the squad to gain valuable experience on the European stage.
He welcomed the return of Matthijs de Ligt to the group after the defender spent an extended period on the sidelines through injury.
“No, we’re not light on numbers,” Carrick said. “Of course, we’ve got a couple of issues with some players missing out, but we’re definitely not light on numbers, and I think it’s good for the likes of Dan to be a part of it and the younger players to sample it.”
The United boss also praised the work De Ligt had put into his recovery, describing his return to the squad as an encouraging development.
“It’s good to have Matta back in and around it. He’s been out for a long period of time, and we had a little bit of patience with him and worked him through,” he added.
“But again, for him to be back around it, it’s fantastic. He’s worked so hard to get to this stage, and he’s had a long journey, so we’re delighted to have him back.”
Carrick confirmed that he would be comfortable playing De Ligt, although he stressed that the defender’s minutes would need to be managed carefully following his lengthy absence.
“I’m definitely comfortable with him playing. Of course, I think there is the element of when that time is and how much it is,” Carrick explained.
“I think he played a little bit of the Lausanne game. He’s done a fair bit of training, but of course, it’s working our way through it and not too much too soon. So I’ve definitely got the confidence in him. There’s no doubt about that.”
Attention then turned to United’s performance against Tottenham, with Carrick acknowledging the importance of making a stronger start against an Atletico Madrid side renowned for its experience and competitiveness in European football.
The United manager said his players understood the challenge awaiting them in Spain and expressed confidence in their ability to respond after showing improvement during the second half against Spurs.
“We definitely need to start strong tomorrow evening. I think that’s pretty obvious,” he said.
“We’re coming to a place like this, against a very good team, with a lot of experience in this competition, and we know what we’re expecting tomorrow night.”
Carrick added that the response shown by his players after the break against Tottenham had strengthened his belief in the squad’s hunger to put recent disappointments behind them.
“The boys are ready for it. I think the way we responded in the second half, in particular, and I think you could see that, so that gives me a lot of faith that I had already in the boys that they’re hungry and they’re eager to put things right.”
With pressure mounting on Manchester United to deliver results, Carrick’s message was one of resilience, accountability and belief. The Atletico Madrid encounter presents an important opportunity for his players to demonstrate their character and produce a performance that matches the demands of the Champions League.
