Carrick backs Man Utd players’ commitment despite another defeat

Michael Carrick insists Manchester United’s players are still fighting for him despite a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea extending their winless run to nine games.

United spurned numerous chances during the first half at Stamford Bridge before going behind in the second, with Morgan Rogers opening the scoring before Cole Palmer doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Lisandro Martinez had been sent off.

But Carrick believes the performance showed there can be no question over the players’ commitment.

“You can’t play like they did, especially in the first half, if the players don’t want to fight,” Carrick said.

“I’m not saying it was all of a sudden they flipped in the second half, it was the game just got away from us and it became more difficult.

“We give away a bad goal and then it’s a lot more challenging to be in a situation than with 10 men.

“So, I think the way they went about it and played, the quality of football and the way we played in the first half definitely gives encouragement.

“I think it was as good as we played for some time, I think, in the first half.

“We looked dangerous, we looked fluid, we looked like a good team.

“Could have, should have, scored one or two, maybe three even with the chances in the spaces that we created.

“And then the game gets away from us.”

The United boss admitted his side failed to respond well enough once the game began to turn against them.

“Sometimes you get setbacks in games and you’ve got to deal with that better,” he said.

“From being in such a good place in the first half, the two halves of football couldn’t probably be more further apart in some ways.”

Asked about United’s continued struggles, Carrick said: “You’ve got to keep moving forward and winning games, simple as that.

“There’s no words that I’m going to explain to you now that makes it any different, it’s not going to change it.

“We’ve got to move forward and win football matches, it’s as simple as that.”

Carrick also praised the travelling United supporters for sticking with the team during a difficult run.

“The supporters have been absolutely amazing,” he said.

“They’ve been really tested at the moment.

“But the way they’ve stuck by all of us and supported the team, went through the second half in difficult circumstances, stayed behind, that sums up exactly what they’re all about.

“And we’ve got to give them something to really get their teeth into in a good direction.”