Premier League news: Carrick brushes aside questions over future, Arteta salutes ‘extraordinary’ Dowman
United head coach believes it will take ‘a lot longer than one or two’ setbacks before he is concerned about his job
Carrick insists: 'It’s not a blame game' Michael Carrick said it would take more than one or two losses before he faced pressure from within the club as Manchester United head coach.
United lost 3-2 to Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, having led 2-0 at Old Trafford. That followed Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to 10-man Manchester City. United also went down 2-0 at Hull on the opening day of the season and conceded a late equaliser at Everton at the beginning of the month. The results have caused Carrick to come under scrutiny and he was reminded before Sunday’s visit to Fulham that his predecessors, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, were sacked after 30 months and 14 months, respectively, in the job.
“It will be a lot longer than one or two games of results,” Carrick said when asked when he might come under pressure from United’s hierarchy. “It’s irrelevant for me. I know the club, I know the role, I know what’s expected here in terms of playing at a certain standard.
“In terms of the future and ownership and how long I’ve got, it’s totally nothing, it’s ridiculous to think that way in the position I’m in; it’s just not on the radar. It’s two or three games we haven’t had certain results. We’ve got to perform and we’ve got a lot of games to plan for.”
Carrick is willing to take responsibility for his team’s performance. “That’s why I’m here. It’s my responsibility, I’m fine with that,” he said. “It’s not a blame game. We always search for things to look at and find the blame, sometimes it gets too much. Blame me, it’s no problem, but it’s not about blaming people. It’s about finding solutions. It’s a collective thing. I know where we want to go and we want to get there fast. We don’t like losing matches, but it doesn’t affect what we do next.”
The 45-year-old was asked if he needs to show more emotion on the touchline. “I need to show more emotion? In what way?” he replied. “What do you want me to show?”
On Friday JJ Gabriel travelled to Barcelona for discussions regarding potentially joining the club, with United understood to have found out via the media despite the 15-year-old being registered with them.
On Tuesday Gabriel told United he wanted his registration rescinded because he wishes to join another club. Real Madrid have a firm interest and it is understood Gabriel and his advisers travelled for preliminary talks with Barcelona.
Carrick said: “The situation will work itself out, whatever way it’s going to work itself out. Making sure he’s OK is the important thing.” Jamie Jackson
Dowman takes step up in his stride Mikel Arteta has praised Max Dowman’s “extraordinary” transition from schoolboy to Arsenal first-team squad member and backed the teenager to make more of an impact this season.
Dowman became the first 16-year-old since Wayne Rooney in October 2002 to score twice for a Premier League club in Arsenal’s victory over Ipswich in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday, after bursting on to the scene last year. That was his first appearance of the campaign, having been an unused substitute on four occasions as Arsenal have won all seven of their fixtures.Dowman, who has been training with Arsenal’s first team since he was 14, completed his GCSEs in the summer and he will study for a BTec qualification after deciding against taking A-Levels. Arteta said Dowman’s development was still being carefully managed by Arsenal after a couple of years of having to balance his studies.
