Michael Carrick says he cannot wait for Tuesday's Champions League meeting with Roma at Old Trafford, even as Manchester United arrive without a victory in nine games and his own future is in doubt.
That winless stretch across all competitions is the club's longest since the 1988-89 season. Another game without a win would give United their first 10-match drought within a single campaign since 1977-78.
Speculation is growing that Carrick could be dismissed during the upcoming international break. He conceded his eagerness might seem crazy given the results, but said he wanted the Roma match to be a big night whatever follows.
United sit 17th in the Premier League. Losses to Atletico Madrid and Como have dropped them to 21st in the Champions League standings after three matches, barely inside the top 24 places that advance.
Roma pose a stiff test. The Italian side's lone defeat this season came at home against Real Madrid in the Champions League last month, in a game they led 3-1 with seven minutes to go.
Martinez and commitment questions
Argentina defender Lisandro Martinez, whose red card at Chelsea drew a fierce backlash, took a full part in an open training session at Carrington on the eve of the match. Some have urged that he be left out, but Carrick responded that players sometimes make mistakes.
Carrick also rejected doubts about the commitment of Martinez or the wider squad, calling the dressing room a good place and saying the team needs to play better and choose more wisely. Striker Bryan Mbeumo and midfielder Carlos Baleba were among the loudest voices in training.
I don't question the commitment of the players, to the club and to me and to each other.
Michael Carrick, Manchester United manager
Mainoo sees one win away
Kobbie Mainoo, the England midfielder who joined United at age seven, sat beside Carrick before reporters. At 21 he is one of the squad's youngest players, yet no one has been at the club longer.
Mainoo, back from a four-match layoff with a muscle problem after coming on in the second half at Chelsea, admitted the season had been hard but said a single victory could change it. He added that the current standing falls short of what a club of United's stature should accept.
Of course it's been a tough season. We've not had the results we've wanted, but I feel like we're one win away from changing that.
Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United midfielder
A rare low in the table
The league position is historically poor. United have not gone down since 1973-74, and the last time they sat in the drop zone nine or more games into a season was November 1986, when Alex Ferguson took one point from his first two matches after Ron Atkinson was sacked.
In the decades since, United had not been worse than 17th at that stage of a season, a mark set in 1989-90. Under Ruben Amorim they were 16th after 37 rounds of the 2024-25 campaign.
