Michael Carrick’s heartfelt five-minute speech at the Man Utd press conference, word for word
Michael Carrick got a bit emotional as he spoke honestly for five minutes in his latest press conference about Manchester United’s current struggles.
Carrick, who became United’s permanent head coach in May after a successful time as interim boss, is feeling the pressure after the team’s tough 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League.
It’s been a hard time for the club, and on Friday, Carrick opened the press conference with a heartfelt talk.
He admitted the club has “lost our way” recently but said he believes he can turn things around with “sacrifice” and “hard work.” He also talked about the club’s “values” and mentioned legends like Wayne Rooney, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Ryan Giggs.
Before United’s Premier League game against Bournemouth on Sunday, Carrick said he wanted to “say a few things” before taking questions.
“I know we haven’t been at our best lately, and I accept that,” he said. “We had a good five months earlier this season, and I was happy with what we were doing as a team. But lately, we haven’t done well — that’s clear.
“Wednesday’s game was really tough. It was painful to watch, and it wasn’t acceptable. I feel for the fans who came out to support us and left feeling disappointed.
“My job is to get a team on the pitch that represents this club and its supporters — a team they can be proud of. Recently, that hasn’t been happening, but I’m fully aware and working on it.
“Our supporters mean everything to me and this club. We need to bring back the connection, energy, and passion we had at the start of the season — and we will.
“This club’s foundation is built on values like humility, hard work, and pride. There’s a deep resilience here, shown through comebacks, successes, and bouncing back from tough times. I’ve seen it firsthand and know the people who made it possible.
“Manchester United is bigger than any one player or coach — it’s about the club. Great players like Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney always put the team first, and legends like Sir Alex Ferguson focused on what’s best for the club.
“Our history is full of people who worked hard and stayed humble to build this club up. We can’t lose that. I feel strongly about keeping those values alive and pushing the players to live up to them.
“We’ve proven we can do this, but right now, we need to show exactly what it means to represent Manchester United — respect the club, work hard, and be ready to sacrifice.
“There’s no entitlement here — winning takes effort and commitment from everyone. We’ve won plenty before, but that doesn’t guarantee future success.
“I’m confident we’ll get back on track. It’s important to me, the players, and our fans that we live up to what this club stands for,” Carrick finished.