MADRID — Manchester United coach Michael Carrick insisted his team can weather the storm after making their worst start to a season in 40 years.
United visit Spanish side Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday looking to improve on just one victory in their last six matches across all competitions.
“We definitely need to start strong … we know what we’re expecting Tuesday night, we’ll be ready for it,” Carrick said.
“The way we responded (against Tottenham) in the second half in particular, I think you could see that, so that gives me a lot of faith that I had already in the boys, that they are hungry and eager to put things right.”
The Red Devils conceded a late goal to draw against 10-man Tottenham in the English Premier League Saturday, leaving them with six points after six games, their worst tally at the same stage since 1986.
Carrick said he could understand people saying the current situation was a “disaster” but that was not something he bought into.
“I understand when it’s not going too well, there’s a real kind of clamour, and a real feeling of ‘it’s a disaster’ and ‘it’s all wrong’ and ‘everything needs to be changed’,” he continued.
“I kind of get that, obviously, but that’s not in our mindset, that’s certainly not in my mindset.
“To achieve anything, really, you’ve got to be able to deal with things that are difficult and you’ve got to overcome things,” he added according to AFP.
“That’s part of it, I did it throughout my career just to be here… we’re right there now in the middle of it, but I totally believe that we’ll come through it.”
Carrick confirmed Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo had not travelled to Madrid after sustaining knocks in the draw with Tottenham.
