Michael Carrick was speaking for the first time since the Manchester United hierarchy gave him a stay of execution following a poor run of form

Michael Carrick said he does not need assurances about his future and isn’t surprised to still be in charge of Manchester United. Following the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday at Old Trafford, there was a growing expectation that Carrick would be relieved of his duties as United boss.

The club kept tight-lipped over his future after meetings on Monday before he took training on Tuesday as planned as it emerged that he would be given more time to turn things around. United are back in action on Saturday when they take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

And speaking for the first time on Thursday afternoon since being given a stay of execution, Carrick said: “I don’t need any assurances from anyone.

“I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities, I understand what comes with that, so I really don’t need any assurances from anyone in that regard.”

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Asked if he was surprised to still be United head coach, Carrick replied: “No. No, I am here to do my job. I am here to do the best for the team, and I am desperate to make us better and improve things, so I’m not surprised, no.

“I said after the game I didn’t expect anything. I was literally dealing with the performance, the result, what it was.

“There was no hiding the fact dynamics and the atmosphere in the stadium was a little bit different to normal and going through that and digesting that. Purely my mind was ‘what do we need to do to improve things?’”

Carrick also said he is ignoring the outside, admitting: “I don’t see it, really. I see the things that I need to see. I don’t look for it. It doesn’t really help in any way.

“I’ve said it before, I care about what the supporters think. I care about what it feels like in the stadium, and them travelling for games, to come and see us and support us.

“I care about what we give them, and what we offer them, and what they see. I genuinely don’t take any notice of anything else.

“I know this job, I know what it brings, I know what we need to do really to be better. I don’t need anyone else to tell me anything else.”