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Carrick Admits Man United Have Fallen Below Expectations

Published

31 minutes ago

October 23, 2026

Michael Carrick admits Man United have fallen below expectations after a poor run of results, urging players to restore the club’s identity

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has admitted that the club have fallen below expectations following a disappointing run of results, insisting that his players must rediscover the values and identity that have defined the Premier League side.

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Speaking at a press conference on Friday, October 23, 2026, ahead of Sunday’s meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford, Carrick described the team’s recent performances as unacceptable and called for a collective effort to restore confidence.

The manager was particularly critical of Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como, which he said had been painful to witness.

“Recently we haven’t had a good time, I think that’s pretty obvious,” Carrick said, according to BBC Sport.

“Wednesday was a bad night, and it hurt me to see us play like that. It was unacceptable.”

United’s struggles have intensified scrutiny of Carrick, with the team enduring a run of seven games without a victory.

Reports of tensions and criticism within the squad have added to the pressure ahead of the Bournemouth fixture.

The former United midfielder said his priority was to ensure the team performed in a way that reflected the club’s traditions and gave supporters reason to be proud.

“My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, and the supporters, and they can be proud of in the identity we show,” he said.

“We have gone away from that recently. We all must recognise that.”

Carrick stressed that Manchester United’s history should serve as a reminder of the standards expected from players and staff, particularly during difficult periods.

He highlighted resilience, humility and hard work as essential qualities, warning that the club could not afford to abandon those principles amid its current struggles.

“The foundation and values of this football club have been etched for many years. I totally understand and get every single one of them,” he said.

“There’s a resilience about this football club that runs very deep. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I’ve felt it, I know some of the individuals closely who have been a big part of that history.”

Carrick also rejected any suggestion that the club’s reputation should entitle its players to special treatment.

“Entitlement cannot be at this football club,” he said.

“It was based on being humble, having humility, and hard work. We can never lose that, and I won’t let us lose that.”

Carrick also declined to rule out leaving captain Bruno Fernandes out of the starting line-up against Bournemouth when asked whether he had considered dropping the Portuguese midfielder.

Fernandes has reportedly criticised Carrick’s tactics following the defeat in Italy, adding another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding the team.

However, Carrick said decisions would be guided by what he believed was best for the club rather than individual considerations.

“The most important thing for me is the team, the squad and dynamics in the squad,” he said.

“It’s about the football club. I’ll always do what is best for the football club.”

His comments suggest that team selection will be based on collective performance and squad dynamics as United seek to arrest their poor run.

Manchester United will host Bournemouth on Sunday as Carrick attempts to guide the team back to winning ways and ease mounting pressure.

The manager’s immediate challenge is to translate his call for renewed commitment into an improved performance on the pitch.

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With supporters demanding better results, the Bournemouth encounter presents United with an opportunity to demonstrate greater resilience and begin rebuilding confidence within the squad.

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Saka to Miss Everton Clash as Arsenal Await Scan Results

Peculiar Adirika

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Saka to Miss Everton Clash as Arsenal Await Scan Results

Published

1 hour ago

October 23, 2026

Peculiar Adirika

Bukayo Saka injury concerns deepen as Arsenal confirm he will miss Everton clash while Mikel Arteta awaits further scan results.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka will miss Saturday’s Premier League clash against Everton as the club awaits further medical assessments to determine the severity of his muscle injury, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed.

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The England international sustained the injury during Arsenal’s Champions League draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena, forcing him off after just 10 minutes.

Arteta described the setback as “really bad news” immediately after the match.

Speaking on Friday, the Arsenal manager said Saka would undergo another magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, with further examinations and specialist opinions required before the club could provide a definitive diagnosis.

“He’s got another MRI this afternoon because he had a lot of fluid,” Arteta said in comments published on Arsenal’s official website.

“We need a few more scans and opinions from the specialists. Let’s be a little bit patient so we can give a definitive answer.”

Arteta admitted that Saka’s difficulty walking after sustaining the injury was concerning, although he cautioned against drawing conclusions before the medical assessments were complete.

“Obviously when a player has to walk off the pitch, he’s struggling to walk without any pain, he’s restricted to movement, they are not good signs,” he said.

The manager reiterated that Arsenal needed a clearer medical picture before confirming the likely recovery period.

Saka’s latest setback has raised questions about the winger’s fitness, but Arteta said the club was dealing with different types of injuries affecting players across the squad.

Asked whether recurring problems could influence Saka’s playing style, the Arsenal manager said it was too early to speculate about the long-term implications.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. It’s been muscles, it’s been tendons as well which is something else. That’s not just with Bukayo, with many other players as well,” he said.

Arteta added that the club had discussed the issue during the previous season and would continue to monitor the situation.

For now, Arsenal must prepare for Everton without one of their key attacking players, while waiting to learn whether the injury will affect Saka’s availability beyond Saturday.

With Saka unavailable, Arsenal will consider alternative attacking options for the Everton fixture and subsequent matches.

Ebere Eze replaced the winger against Bayern Munich and scored to put Arsenal ahead. Arteta praised the midfielder’s response and his contribution after entering the game.

“I’m extremely happy with how Ebz reacted to the previous game and the impact that he had on the team and the performance that he put in,” the manager said.

Teenage forward Max Dowman could also receive additional playing time as Arsenal adjust their attacking plans.

Arteta backed the youngster to make an impact when given opportunities, pointing to his performances in training and his ability to influence matches.

“He’s training, and every time he’s got a moment to play, he’s showing that he’s a player that is going to impact the game, so for sure he’s going to have minutes,” Arteta said.

Dowman previously scored in Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Everton in the corresponding fixture last season, giving the teenager another opportunity to feature against the same opponents.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his recovery, Arteta wants Saka to remain involved with the team and help maintain morale while he is sidelined.

The Arsenal manager said he had encouraged the winger to bring positive energy to the training ground, even as he focuses on his rehabilitation.

“I already told him to go to the training ground and be the first one there with a good spirit and energy because that’s what the team needs,” Arteta said.

Arsenal will host Everton on Saturday as they continue their Premier League campaign alongside their European commitments.

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The club’s immediate priority is to secure a clearer diagnosis for Saka, with his expected recovery time still uncertain pending further medical assessments.