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Michael Carrick said he is ‘100 per cent’ sure he will be able to help Manchester United get back to winning ways.
The Red Devils find themselves in something of a crisis, with Wednesday night’s damning defeat by Como stretching their winless run to seven matches.
Carrick himself has been under pressure for some time and seemed to be on the brink of the sack as United returned from Italy, but it has been all but confirmed that he will take to the dugout once more as Bournemouth visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
But Carrick was in a defiant mood as he faced the press on Friday afternoon, and insisted that he considers himself the man for the job.
Asked if that were the case, he responded: “100 per cent. Yes.”
He continued, saying he had held frank conversations with his squad in the wake of that galling defeat at Como, hailed by some as one of United’s worst nights in European competition.
"We've spoken. There are always conversations going on,” he continued.
Thin ice: Michael Carrick
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"It's pretty obvious how we're all feeling. A reaction, a reaction from me.
"The responsibility for me in this position is to lead. It is my responsibility, whatever goes on the pitch and what we look like, what we feel like.
"I'll hold that umbrella for me to stay wet so everyone else can stay dry. That's the position I'm in and it's a privileged position.
"Discussions are going on, getting the players in a good frame of mind and well organised to put in a good performance on Sunday."
He also insisted his squad remained united, despite Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes both choosing to speak out against the club in recent interviews.
Asked what it is United are lacking if they are to get back on track, he called for ‘humility and hard work’.
"It's pretty clear as day. I'm not telling you anything new, I haven't invented anything new with that.
"That is the make-up of any good football team. You have to earn the right to be better than your opponent. You have to do more than your opponent to win a game.
"It's as simple as that. It doesn't change, it never changes. It's what we need to do to win more games."