Carrick backs Manchester United to respond after poor start to season

Michael Carrick took permanent charge of Manchester United after guiding the club to third place last season. | Photo Credit: PHIL NOBLE

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick remains confident his side can come through its difficult start to the season, saying successful teams inevitably have periods they must learn to overcome.

Carrick was handed the job on a permanent basis after an impressive spell as interim manager at the end of last season, when he guided United to third place in the Premier League and qualification for the Champions League.

However, United has managed only four points from its opening four league matches this season.

Its struggles continued in midweek when Brighton knocked it out of the League Cup with a 3-2 victory at Old Trafford. United surrendered a two-goal advantage at home for the first time in 50 years.

“History tells you that any team that’s successful goes through periods when you have to work through it, come through it and improve,” Carrick said ahead of Sunday’s Premier League trip to Fulham.

“We’ve had a small period, in recent time, when it hasn’t been exactly what we want it to be.

“I was expecting a point when we would go through it, it was going to come. We had such a good spell last season, going into this season.”

United has also been on the wrong side of fine margins in recent matches.

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Refereeing officials apologised after Manchester City’s Erling Haaland scored the winner in last weekend’s derby, with VAR failing to identify an offside against Enzo Fernandez during the build-up.

United also appeared on course for victory against Everton before Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck from distance to rescue a point for the Toffees.

“It is a week or two, the games haven’t gone our way,” Carrick said.

“It’s tiny margins in some of those games. We will work through it. Winning games is always the answer, it can cover up a lot of things at times as well.

“Sometimes it’s the small disappointments that lead to something a bit bigger. It’s part of coping and being at this great football club.”

United could welcome Luke Shaw back from injury for the match at Craven Cottage, while Carlos Baleba is also in contention to make his debut following his 70 million Euro move