Michael Carrick says he has not experienced the "toxic" culture Erik ten Hag described at Manchester United, insisting he "couldn't be happier with the togetherness" in his squad and that the club's board back him — even as United head to Como in the Champions League with just one win from their first seven Premier League matches.
"I haven't experienced the toxicity"
Ten Hag, sacked by United in 2024 after winning the FA Cup and the EFL Cup, heavily criticised the club in an interview with The Athletic, saying the board broke its promises in the transfer market and describing a difficult culture behind the scenes. Asked about those claims at his pre-Como press conference on Tuesday, Carrick refused to be drawn into a row with his predecessor.
"I haven't [experienced the toxicity]," Carrick said, as reported by SoccerNews. "The players and staff have given everything they can. The type of performance the group put in on the weekend — there's a lot of togetherness, will and determination to do better. I couldn't be happier with the togetherness."
"That's Erik's opinion on the board. Wrong for me to comment and get involved," he added. "Results dictate a lot of the feeling at a football club. Within our walls as a group, we are pretty composed but driven. We've got to think calmly, with emotions directed in the right way. The conversations we have, we are quite clear. It's important we are all pulling in the right direction."
The full background to Ten Hag's complaints — including the board meeting in Ibiza where he says he was promised Scott McTominay would not be sold — is in our report on the broken promises behind his United exit.
Backed by the board — and, oddly, by Ten Hag
Carrick was just as direct when asked whether he feels supported by the hierarchy, naming the clarity of his conversations with Jason Wilcox, Omar Berrada and the owners. "Yeah, why wouldn't I?" he said. "I'm in this position, I have a really good relationship with everyone at the football club. There's really no issues and no problems with that side. I don't need any reassurance. It's pretty clear. I know the role, I know the responsibilities. We've got to win football games for everything to flow and fit into place — that's the great thing, we can do something about it."
In a strange twist, Carrick's most public defender this week is Ten Hag himself. Despite his criticism of the board, the Dutchman told The Athletic that sacking Carrick "is not the solution — 100% not", as FotMob reported. "Fans will demand this if results don't improve — it is coming out from the stomach, from the emotion. You have to make rational decisions. He showed good coaching abilities at Middlesbrough and last season. So let him do his process. I think he has a good staff."
So what: Como is a must-win, not a distraction
The numbers explain why the questions keep coming. United have won just one of their seven league matches this season, drawing four and losing two — their fewest victories at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1986-87 — and sit 13th in the Premier League, with only two wins in 10 games in all competitions. In Europe they beat Sabah in their opener but lost to Atletico Madrid last week, which makes Wednesday's first-ever meeting with Como a game they can ill afford to drop.
History is at least on their side: United are unbeaten in their last six away games against Italian sides in the Champions League, winning three and drawing three, and have not lost in Italy in this competition since AC Milan in May 2007. Carrick also paid tribute to Como coach Cesc Fabregas — "one of the best I've played against" — a respect the Spaniard has not entirely returned when asked about the United job this week.
Beyond the Final Whistle: Carrick handled this exactly right — no feud, no excuses, just a calm insistence that the dressing room is together and the board are behind him. But togetherness does not show up in a league table. One win in seven is the worst United start in 40 years, and warm words from the man who was sacked before him will not protect Carrick if Como goes wrong. Wednesday night is where his defence has to be made — on the pitch, not in the press room. Do you believe Carrick when he says there is no toxicity at United? Let us know in the comments.
