“I don’t know what’s next”: Carrick faces uncertain future after United’s Bournemouth defeat
Michael Carrick has insisted his full-time acknowledgement of the fans wasn't a farewell after Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
Manchester United crashed to a humbling home loss in the Premier League on Sunday, as defeat to Bournemouth extended the club's winless run to eight games.
Carrick's side have won just seven points from eight Premier League games this season, the club's lowest return at this stage of a league season for 40 years. Defeat was also the club's heaviest at Old Trafford since December 2024, also against Bournemouth.
At full-time, Carrick paid tribute to the fans that remained inside Old Trafford, having also issued an on-pitch apology for the 4-1 defeat at Como in midweek.
However, he insisted his salute of the fans was not farewell, as his position comes under question.
"It wasn't a farewell from me. I'm mixed emotions, I'm feeling it for my players, they're going through a tough spell,"he said to Sky Sports.
"Some of it we can help, some of it the situation unravels and the boys are feeling it at the moment. Mixed emotions for the supporters to respond in that way.
"To have that connection with the supporters it's mixed emotions, it'll take a bit of time to digest but I certainly appreciate their support. The situation is where we are and we haven't had results or performances that have been good enough.
"It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from it. What it looks like and what's next I really don't know. I will always do my best for the football club and I won't change that now. I love what I do and I feel the responsibility - we'll have to wait and see."
On the result, which continued a wretched start to the season, Carrick said his side are hurting. He opted to drop captain Bruno Fernandes to the bench, following the midfielder's criticism of his tactics after the Como loss.
"Tough day for them - we went into the game being rocked a bit and you could feel that on the pitch. They kept going and they're disappointed, they're hurt. The players are feeling it. It's not a nice feeling when you see the disappointment. It is what it is, you have to accept it and that's the situation we're in at the moment.
"It's difficult for me to have a day like this at this club and feel the emotion - the dynamic of what it was like today. Not for me personally but for Man Utd. It was really mixed today. I feel a lot of responsibility, I've been at the club a long time. It hurts an awful to to see us going through this at this moment in time."
