Carrick faces United's eight-game losing skid

Manchester United has lost its last eight matches, a streak that leaves the club in 16th place in the 20-team league, just one point above the relegation zone.

Head coach Michael Carrick acknowledged the pressure on his position following the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth last Sunday. He stated that he has held onto his job for now and will test the squad's resilience against Chelsea this Saturday.

Carrick indicated that he held difficult discussions this week with Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and Omar Berrada, the chief executive. He described these exchanges as necessary but not always pleasant, emphasizing that the "hard truth" is required to move the team forward.

"It’s the truth, it’s the hard truth at times and it’s what we need to move forward," Carrick said. "Whatever we need to move forward, we will do."

Supporter reactions to the recent loss were mixed. Fans cheered Carrick as he completed a lap of the pitch but booed the players as they entered the tunnel, citing a perceived lack of effort. Carrick said the players are "hurting" but remain "hungry" to change their fortunes.

The manager expressed strong feelings about the connection with the crowd, noting that while the situation was not nice, he felt the appreciation from the supporters was important. He stressed that he feels 100% aligned with the players and does not want any separation between the coaching staff, the team, and the fans.

Gary Neville, speaking on a podcast, questioned the professionalism of some United players, claiming a few do not sleep or eat correctly. Carrick responded to the criticism by laughing and saying, "Gaz says a lot of things."