Michael Carrick is under mounting pressure, but his focus is on Roma. The Manchester United manager is on a winless run of a length not seen in nearly four decades. Questions surround his future, the dressing-room mood and the commitment of one of his most combative players. Carrick is concentrating on the Champions League tie, not the turmoil around him.
Martínez faces fresh questions
Lisandro Martínez has never avoided drama, and the past week has again put his temperament under scrutiny. Martínez made a public outburst at the United hierarchy, specifically director of football Jason Wilcox, and the club fined him. He then received a reckless red card in the defeat at Chelsea.
Tension and missteps have already marked the season. For some players, Martínez’s actions might have brought exile. Instead, they have prompted questions over whether his heart is still in it and whether his frustration points to a deeper malaise.
Carrick is unequivocal.
“I’ve got no concerns about commitment at all,” he said, brushing aside the suggestion that Martínez’s attitude might be a liability. “Things happen in football, sometimes you do things, sometimes you make a decision, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but the commitment is not an issue.”
Carrick offered public support at a time when both he and Martínez are under close scrutiny. Martínez is expected to keep his place against Roma. The decision suggests Carrick values Martínez’s defiance as well as his defensive grit.
Roma match brings pressure
Tuesday’s match is more than another fixture. United have lost consecutive away games to Atlético Madrid and Como and sit 21st in the Champions League’s league phase. Reports suggest Carrick needs a positive result against Roma, then another against Aston Villa in the Premier League, to avoid the axe.
Old Trafford has offered little comfort lately. The last home game ended in a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, with the Stretford End sending the players off to a chorus of boos. There is little room for another error.
Carrick remains optimistic.
“I can’t look into the future, I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said, his focus locked on the present. “That doesn’t change the way I feel, that’s how we’re preparing for the game tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to the game. You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but I genuinely can’t wait for the game tomorrow and that’s all I’m focused on. Whatever happens is going to happen after that, in whatever direction it goes in.”
The dressing room feels a debt to the supporters and to Carrick. Kobbie Mainoo admitted the players owe the fans a response. Their backing for Carrick is about more than loyalty, with the manager and players facing the same pressure.
Injuries leave United short
United also face Roma with a depleted squad. Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford, and Benjamin Sesko are all ruled out for the Roma clash. Patrick Dorgu has only just returned to training and is not fit enough to feature.
Carrick and Martínez must turn the tide with the resources available or risk being swept away by it. A positive result would lift United’s Champions League campaign, offer Carrick a reprieve and reaffirm Martínez’s place as a cornerstone of the club’s future. Every decision and every moment against Roma carries the weight of a season on the brink.
