"We need to do something about it" — Michael Carrick on Man Utd's form and pressure

[0:00] Spurs game and ahead to tomorrow as well. [0:02] Have you been able to put your finger on it as to maybe the lack of performance, [0:06] especially at the start, to kind of ensure you do start strong tomorrow evening? [0:11] Well, we definitely need to start strong tomorrow evening. [0:13] I think that's pretty obvious, you know, that coming to a place like this [0:17] against a very good team with a lot of experience in this competition [0:20] and we know what we're expecting tomorrow night, you know, [0:25] and we'll be ready for it, you know, the boys are ready for it. [0:28] I think the way we responded in the second half in particular, [0:31] I think you could see that, so that gives me a lot of faith [0:35] that I had already in the boys, the hungry and the eager to put things right. [0:42] And just a question for Lenny as well. [0:43] Lenny, first of all, congrats on your debut for France over the break. [0:47] Just wonder from the players' perspective, [0:49] there's so much positivity going into the season. [0:52] Have you guys had, you know, meetings away from training, away from the staff, [0:55] just to talk about improving kind of the slow start to the season? [1:00] Yeah, I think this is something really important as a team. [1:04] Sometimes we have to speak, say the truth, and this is something we did. [1:07] This is something we're going to do in the future as well. [1:11] But yeah, it's something we have to do. [1:14] Elizabeth? [1:15] Hello, I'm Elizabeth Conway from BBC Sport. [1:17] Michael, do you feel pressure surrounding United's results? [1:22] Do you feel the pressure is affecting the players? [1:24] And how are you looking to restore that confidence ahead of a tough run of fixtures? [1:30] It kind of depends on how you define pressure, to be honest. [1:32] I think there's our own expectation. [1:34] You know, we know what we want, what we're capable of doing as a team, [1:38] what we expect as a group and as a football club. [1:41] And that comes from us. [1:42] I certainly don't look outside or elsewhere of what it should look like. [1:49] I know fine well exactly what it should look like. [1:51] You know, I've felt it and I've felt the ups and I've felt the downs. [1:55] So I don't feel the pressure from that at all. [2:00] It's us wanting to succeed and we want to win [2:02] and we want to be part of something successful. [2:05] So that's the drive. [2:08] There's no negativity around that. [2:10] You know, it's a pure embracing the challenge [2:13] and being excited about what we can possibly do. [2:15] And there's going to be times when it doesn't go for you. [2:17] There's going to be times when it's a bit of a struggle. [2:19] But to get to anywhere, to do something very good, to do something great, [2:24] you know, you've got to be able to do something difficult. [2:26] And if you can't do something difficult and get through it, [2:29] then you're not going to succeed. [2:30] And that's where we've had a bit of a spell at the moment. [2:33] And we're hugely positive. [2:36] The boys, they've got the confidence in each other [2:39] and I've got the utmost belief in them. [2:41] And it's very fine lines, you know. [2:44] We didn't start the game very well the other day [2:46] and we all acknowledge that. [2:48] The last three goals we've kind of conceded really in the league [2:51] have all been avoidable. [2:52] And that changes things an awful lot. [2:55] So it's very fine margins, you know. [2:58] But I've got the utmost of confidence in the boys [3:02] that we can win games and win a lot of games. [3:05] And I just wanted to ask you about Bruno Fernandes. [3:08] Obviously, last season he won the PFA Player of the Year. [3:12] His form was on form. [3:13] This season, you would think it's fair to say [3:15] that that form has changed. [3:17] What do you put that down to? [3:19] And do you think he's able to reach that form [3:21] that we saw last season? [3:24] Yeah, I mean, it's pretty obvious to say that he can. [3:28] Yeah, I mean, he's a top player, Bruno. [3:31] And sometimes things don't quite go for you, you know. [3:34] And sometimes you have a spell of that. [3:35] And he's done some incredible things for this football club. [3:39] And he'll do the same in the future. [3:41] There's no doubt about it. [3:43] Just one behind there in the white polo shirt. [3:46] Yeah, just there. [3:49] Hello, Michael. [3:49] Marcelo de Valde, D'Ossius de Blarera. [3:51] You had the opportunity to face Atletico Madrid [3:54] during the pre-season. [3:55] And I was wondering, [3:58] what's the difference are you expecting [4:01] to fight in tomorrow's game? [4:04] Yeah, well, I think pre-season is pre-season, you know, [4:07] and largely the actual teams themselves, [4:11] maybe the individuals within the teams [4:12] are going to be slightly different. [4:13] There's certain principles within the game [4:16] that maybe there's a similarity, [4:18] but the whole intensity, the feeling, the emotion [4:20] taken into the game [4:22] and the general energy in the game [4:25] will be a totally different game. [4:27] And I know what the stadium can do [4:31] and has luck from afar in Champions League nights. [4:34] And we need to be ready for that. [4:36] And it'll be a very different feeling [4:37] to what that was pre-season. [4:38] And I was able to play the games [4:39] and that's the commitment that he's got to do that. [4:43] So, yeah, he's pretty much over it. [4:47] Still there slightly, but as I said, [4:49] I could go through the whole squad at this point [4:51] and there'll be little bits here and there. [4:54] So right now, it's not a major deal. [4:57] He's in good shape [4:58] and he was really bright this morning [4:59] and looking forward to the game. [5:02] Ty. [5:03] Hi, Michael. [5:04] We're only really sat here with United [5:06] in the Champions League [5:07] because of what you and the players achieved [5:08] in the second half of last season [5:10] and how successful that was. [5:11] Now we're sat here eight games into the season [5:13] talking about you being under pressure [5:14] and what's going wrong [5:15] and how it might be fixed. [5:16] Are you surprised at how quickly [5:18] it's kind of reached a point [5:20] where we're having these conversations this season? [5:24] I'm surprised. [5:24] You're never surprised. [5:26] Of course, we hope for a lot more. [5:27] I've said it to you over the last few weeks. [5:29] We hope for a lot more. [5:30] We've expected a lot more. [5:31] We are where we are as well. [5:32] And I was well aware [5:35] that the chances of it going in that direction [5:38] of winning as many games [5:39] and constantly winning games as we had, [5:41] there was going to be a period [5:42] when it was going to become [5:44] a little bit more challenging [5:45] and a little bit stickier. [5:47] That's part of it. [5:49] Football and building something [5:51] takes a journey [5:53] and you've got to overcome things. [5:56] I'm sat here with a coach here [5:59] that's been here a long, long time [6:00] and I'm sure there's times [6:01] when there's been waves [6:04] when it hasn't quite gone to plan. [6:06] They've had huge successes [6:07] in winning leagues [6:09] and being around right at the later stages [6:11] of Champions League, [6:12] but they'll have had times [6:13] when it hasn't gone quite to plan. [6:14] We've got teams in our league [6:15] that have had success [6:18] but it hasn't necessarily always been [6:20] in one direction. [6:21] I understand when it's not going too well [6:24] there's a real kind of clamour [6:28] and a real feeling of it's a disaster [6:31] and it's all wrong [6:32] and everything needs to be changed. [6:34] I kind of get that, obviously, [6:36] but that's not in our mindset. [6:39] That's certainly not in my mindset. [6:40] I think, as I've said, [6:42] to achieve anything really [6:43] you've got to be able [6:44] to deal with things that are difficult [6:46] and you've got to overcome things. [6:47] That's just part of it. [6:49] I did it throughout my career [6:50] and just to be here. [6:53] Lenny sat here with me now [6:54] as a grown-up as players [6:55] and you have big challenges [6:57] and he's made his France debut last week. [7:00] We're delighted for him. [7:01] It's an unbelievable achievement. [7:03] He wouldn't have played every game [7:04] at the top of his level [7:05] and won every single game [7:06] to get there, [7:07] but he gets there. [7:07] We can't lose sight of the journey. [7:11] We need to do something about it now [7:12] and accept the reality [7:13] and we win games. [7:15] Of course we do. [7:17] As I've said, [7:18] the last three goals [7:18] we've probably conceded [7:19] are all goals [7:20] where we can definitely [7:22] do something about. [7:23] We know that. [7:24] The boys know that. [7:25] That's had a major impact [7:26] on what the league [7:27] all of a sudden looks like. [7:29] That wasn't happening last season. [7:31] It can be the difference, [7:33] but I love this part [7:37] of sometimes [7:40] when it's not quite going against you. [7:42] You see who's really there. [7:44] You see within the group, [7:46] the players, [7:47] the squad, [7:47] the club, [7:48] who's really there [7:49] and who wants to be here [7:50] for the long term [7:51] and is really attached to it [7:52] and really means something. [7:54] The supporters are there. [7:55] They want it. [7:56] They're desperate for it [7:57] and we've got to give them something. [8:00] So I think you've got to [8:01] sometimes embrace the challenges [8:02] to get to where you want to be [8:04] and we're right there now [8:05] in the middle of it, [8:06] but I totally believe [8:09] that we'll come through it. [8:11] Hola, Michael. [8:13] Por aquí. [8:14] Por aquí. [8:15] En español. [8:17] Hello, Michael. [8:17] Question in Spanish. [8:21] I wanted to ask you [8:23] about the eternal debate [8:24] here in Spain, [8:26] which is whether [8:26] Atletico Madrid [8:28] is seen at the same level [8:29] as Real Madrid [8:30] and Barcelona [8:31] when it's seen [8:32] from the outside [8:33] and sometimes [8:35] there's a lot of talk [8:36] about Simeone, [8:37] the Atletico Madrid manager, [8:38] being very similar [8:39] to Ferguson in England. [8:41] Do you think [8:41] this talk about that [8:42] in England? [8:43] Do you think [8:44] he's such a big character [8:45] he's in Spain? [8:48] Yeah, [8:48] as I said before, [8:50] I think the respect [8:51] there is definitely spread [8:53] to our country, [8:55] for sure. [8:55] It's definitely spread to me. [8:56] I think the respect [8:57] for the coach [8:58] is very big. [8:59] I think what he's achieved [9:01] it's difficult to say [9:04] in terms of [9:05] Barcelona and Real [9:07] have a lot of titles [9:08] and maybe [9:09] in terms of trophies [9:10] that little bit more [9:11] but for sure [9:13] playing against them [9:14] we don't treat them [9:15] any different. [9:15] We think they're [9:16] as good as any team [9:17] in this competition [9:19] as in Europe [9:19] and they're as dangerous [9:20] as any team [9:21] and they've proved that [9:22] for a long period of time [9:24] so it's very difficult [9:26] to see who's better, [9:27] who's on par [9:28] but we respect them [9:30] and we treat them [9:30] as one of the very best teams [9:32] for sure. [9:34] Michael, [9:35] good evening [9:36] Ian Dennis [9:36] from Five Live. [9:37] You're just talking then [9:38] about the challenges [9:39] that the players face. [9:40] You've got two [9:41] particularly testing away games [9:42] this week. [9:44] I would imagine [9:44] they're the type of challenges [9:45] that the players should relish [9:47] but what gives you faith [9:48] that they'll be up [9:49] for those challenges? [9:51] Because I know them. [9:52] I know how much they care. [9:53] I know how strong [9:54] the group is [9:55] and the other side of things [9:58] you've got no choice. [9:59] You've got to be. [10:00] That's why we're here. [10:00] We're here to test ourselves [10:03] and that's the great thing [10:05] about it. [10:06] That's the opportunity [10:07] that's in front of us [10:08] and if you haven't got [10:11] that little bit in you [10:12] where maybe it's [10:14] a little bit crazy at times [10:16] that I actually love [10:17] the challenge [10:18] and really want to dig deep [10:19] to find the answers [10:20] then it's not the place [10:22] for you, believe me. [10:23] So I've got the utmost trust [10:25] in the players. [10:26] I've seen it. [10:26] I've seen it close quarters. [10:27] I've seen it during games. [10:29] I've seen it behind closed doors [10:30] in and around changing rooms [10:31] when we've had successes [10:32] and the behaviours to that [10:34] and when maybe we haven't [10:37] and I know [10:38] what the players are feeling [10:41] and how hungry they are [10:42] to improve [10:43] and it's a big week. [10:44] Yeah, of course it is. [10:44] It's two tough games, [10:46] two important games [10:47] but we're hugely [10:48] looking forward to them [10:49] and we know [10:51] we're in a spot [10:52] at the moment [10:52] a little bit. [10:54] Definitely come off that, [10:55] you know. [10:55] And Lenny, [10:57] just if I could ask you one, [11:00] this is on the players, [11:01] isn't it, [11:01] for the slow start. [11:02] So are you [11:03] and the rest of the group [11:04] ready to repay that faith [11:06] in your manager? [11:07] Yeah, of course. [11:09] Still the beginning [11:09] of the season, [11:10] you know. [11:11] I think we did well [11:12] in the second part [11:13] last season [11:13] with the coach. [11:15] So this is something [11:16] that cannot be done [11:17] like this. [11:19] I trust the team. [11:21] I trust us [11:24] for the next game [11:24] to move on [11:26] and to do better [11:26] but honestly, [11:28] I'm not worried [11:29] about this. [11:30] Every team can have [11:31] some difficulties [11:32] in the first part [11:33] of the season [11:33] but this is something [11:35] we're ready for [11:36] and something [11:37] we have to move on [11:37] and work.