Michael Carrick said he is “not surprised” to still be in a job as Manchester United manager, despite the team failing to win any of its last eight games and making its worst league start for 40 years.
Carrick, who signed a two-year contract this summer after guiding United into the Champions League following his arrival as a short-term successor to Ruben Amorim in January, had been expected to lose his job this week following a 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Sunday.
But after a series of meetings involving the United hierarchy on Monday, Carrick has been left in charge for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea.
And when asked whether he was surprised to still be in a job, the former United midfielder said he is ready to continue in his role.
“No, I am here to do my job and do my job for the team,” Carrick said in response to a question as to whether he was surprised to still be at the club. “I’m desperate to make us better and improve things, so I’m not surprised, no.
“I said after the [Bournemouth] game that I didn’t expect anything. I was dealing with the performance and the result.
“There was no hiding that the dynamics in the stadium were a bit different from normal. My mind was going through that and digesting that as I mentioned to you guys [media] after the game.
“It was purely that my mind was [thinking] ‘what do we need to do to improve things?'”
Despite the lengthy talks and delay in the club communicating that Carrick would remain in charge, the 45-year-old said he has not sought assurances from the hierarchy about his job.
“I don’t need any assurances from anyone,” he said. “I totally get the position, get the job the responsibilities and what comes with that.
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“I don’t see it really [outside noise], I see things I need to see. I don’t look for it, it doesn’t help in any way.
“I care what the supporters think, what it feels like in the stadium. I genuinely don’t take any notice of anything else. I know this job and what it brings.”
