Michael Carrick is not emotionless, protected Man Utd players should repay him

Michael Carrick had five brilliant months in his interim role before stepping into the cauldron of his first full season as Manchester United’s head coach.

It would be naive to suggest Manchester United’s start to the new season has been anything but concerning. The lack of urgency, poor game management, questions about recruitment, dropped points and Carabao Cup elimination.

The optimism that brewed under Carrick last season was almost contagious, although I know some United fans refused to get carried away by his run in charge. Still, it’s massively disappointing to see the 2026/27 campaign start this way. Having written about how I think our under-pressure head coach can turn things around, the team must also take note, starting by running more and working harder, as it’s been evident since game week 1 that urgency is lacking in United’s play.

Carrick deserves his criticisms too, but one I don’t buy is that he’s emotionless. It’s as lazy as many of the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer comparisons I’ve seen this week.

Michael Carrick hits back at emotion question from journalist

After United’s 3-2 defeat against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, Carrick looked and sounded defeated as he carried out post-match media duties. The last thing he wanted to do was face the media, but he took responsibility and didn’t throw any of his players under the bus.

Chants were aimed at Carrick and his players from the Stretford End following the game. The head coach, as far as I’m concerned, wasn’t surprised by the angry reaction and took it on the chin. He can’t be happy with the performances or results either.

“We don’t like losing football matches, so it’s not that I don’t feel the emotion of losing football matches, but it doesn’t affect how I think about what we need to do next. I think that’s the most important thing,” Carrick told the press.

He was then pressed on the emotion – or apparent lack of it – that he shows on the touchline. A suggestion, you could tell, he felt was ridiculous.

“I need to show more emotion? In what way?” asked Carrick. The journalist in question made up some lame excuse in response, suggesting that fans wanted more emotion from their head coach.

“In what way? I’m asking: how, what do you want me to show?” The journalist couldn’t answer that, and we’re none the wiser if he’s demanding tears, dancing or passive-aggressive behaviour à la Mikel Arteta.

The witch hunt has already begun, and some journalists are poking holes in Carrick to see what goes through. It has been clear throughout his time at Old Trafford that he cares for the club. I had more doubts about Ruben Amorim than I do now.

Amorim would look in the opposite direction of corner kicks and penalties. He wasn’t one for filling others with confidence, but the only way Carrick can do that now is by winning football matches.

That requires a reaction from his players, who, let’s be honest, haven’t been carrying their weight so far this season. The inexcusable running stats documented this week prove that.

After a shoddy start, the United players need to repay Carrick not just with a convincing performance at Craven Cottage on Sunday. It must lead to a winning run after the squad gets together following the September-October international break.

That is the least they can do, as there wasn’t much wrong with Carrick’s tactics or coaching last season. United got results. I can’t imagine much has changed since then.