Michael Carrick is adamant there is no ‘toxic culture’ at Old Trafford despite explosive allegations by former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
United landed in Italy for their Champions League clash with Como without a win in six games and missing nine senior players as they were met with a storm warning ahead of Wednesday’s game at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia.
Asked about Ten Hag’s comments, where he complained of broken promises and a toxic dressing room culture during his time at the club, Carrick insisted he has the support of the owners, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.
He also knows that will count for nothing if he cannot deliver results after the club’s worst start to a league season in 40 years.
‘That’s Erik’s opinion,’ said Carrick. ‘Why wouldn’t I (feel backed)? I’m in this position. I have a really good relationship with everybody at the football club.
‘There are really no issues and no problems with any of that side. There are certain conversations we have that we’re really clear — with Jason, with Omar, with the owners, and down to the players. It’s really important we’re all pulling in the same direction.’
Michael Carrick has stressed that he has full backing of Manchester United’s hierarchy
The current head coach was forced to answer to an inflammatory interview from one of his predecessors Erik ten Hag
Carrick also dismissed suggestions of a toxic culture at United after Ten Hag claimed that the club fed it by giving power to the players during his time in charge.
‘Since I came back, the players and the staff have given us everything that they could give,’ Carrick added.
‘We’ve had some good performances. We’ve had some performances that we want to do better and we can improve on. We’ve made some mistakes.
‘But I have to say, the type of performance we put into the weekend and for large parts against Atletico, there’s a lot of togetherness there. There’s a lot of will and determination to do better and wanting to do it for each other, which is important.
‘So in that regard for the group, I couldn’t be happier with the togetherness, for sure.’
With United struggling for form, Carrick accepted his future is going to be a source of debate, adding: ‘I don’t need any reassurance. It’s pretty clear. I know the role, I know my responsibilities. I don’t need anyone else to tell me when it’s going well or when it needs to be better.
‘I know we’ve got to win football games for everything to flow and everything to fall into place.’
Ten Hag saw things differently, saying of the ownership: ‘They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned. We spoke about the issues. But the promises, they didn’t keep.’
Ten Hag also hit out at Ronaldo during his second spell at the club, telling the Athletic: ‘He let the team down, and he let me down, because we planned with him.
‘I flew out to Portugal to speak with him about what I was aiming for before I came to United. Obviously, he’s one of the best in football history. I respected him a lot. But at that time, as a manager, I had to make a rational decision and keep the players I admire in.’
As for the present crop, Carrick must do without the suspended Leny Yoro, while Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven and Manuel Ugarte are unavailable due to injury or illness.
It leaves Carrick with a major headache in defence with Matthijs De Ligt set to make his comeback from a back injury after nearly a year out of action.
‘It’s great to have him back,’ said Carrick. ‘He’s had such a long journey of maybe 11 months or so of being out, being patient, worked hard.
‘So we’re delighted to have him back. He’s fit, he’s ready and he’s been training for a number of weeks now, so he’s in a really good place.’
The weather forecast made equally grim reading for United after they landed at the end of a day of downpours here. Up to 64 millimetres of rain is due to fall before the game, and lightning is expected close to the early kick-off time.
‘There are no immediate concerns for me,’ smiled Carrick. ‘We’re kind of used to the rain, so we’ll make the most of it.’
Sat next to him at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia on Tuesday night, Andrey Santos was asked about Martinez’s bombshell interview after last week’s defeat in Madrid in which his teammate criticised the Old Trafford hierarchy — and by association the club’s summer signings – over United’s transfer strategy in the summer.
‘We know the comments about Licha,’ said Santos, a £50million buy from Chelsea. ‘But I think now it’s done, so we have to move on to tomorrow. We are on the same page (as a group) and we believe in ourselves and our teammates.’
READ MORE: Broken promises and nobody taking responsibility: Erik ten Hag is right – Man United are addicted to going around in circles, writes NATHAN SALT, and Michael Carrick is learning his bosses don’t have a clear plan
