Maguire: Man Utd players must look at themselves, not blame Carrick

Harry Maguire says Manchester United's players must look in the mirror and take responsibility for their dire results, admitting "something needs to change" at Old Trafford.

United's dreadful 2026-27 campaign hit a new low on Sunday as they were thumped 3-0 by Bournemouth at Old Trafford, following an error-strewn performance.

Rayan popped up totally unmarked to score Bournemouth's opening goal, Leny Yoro's slip led to Marcus Tavernier tapping home for 2-0, then Senne Lammens raced well off his line and was beaten by Evanilson for the Cherries' second-half clincher. 

United have now gone eight games without a victory in all competitions (D3 L5) for the first time since December 2015. 

Having not suffered back-to-back defeats at any stage of the 2025-26 season, the Red Devils have lost consecutive games twice during this run.

And, since the start of 2023-24, no Premier League team has lost more home games by a margin of at least three goals, across all competitions, than United (seven).

Their latest embarrassing result – which came with captain Bruno Fernandes watching on from the bench, following his public criticism of Michael Carrick's tactics – will only intensify the pressure on the United boss, but Maguire says the players are responsible.

"It wasn't good enough. We're disappointed to give a goal away so early – from another set-play – as conceding first in the Premier League makes it difficult," Maguire told Sky Sports.

"A mistake for the second goal makes it hard for ourselves. We didn't perform well enough as individuals or as a team and we didn't deserve anything from the game.

"It's not clicking at the moment. Results are not good enough and performances in the last week have not been good enough. 

"It's still early in the season. You've got to find something, question yourself, look in the mirror – that's the most important thing – and think what more you can contribute to the team. If we do that, we'll get somewhere."

Asked if he and his team-mates would hold talks about the situation, Maguire said: "If those conversations happen, they will remain private. 

"We want to do more, to be better and get better results. At the moment, it's nowhere near good enough and something needs to change.

"Of course, you have to look after your own performances and take responsibility. 

"This is a huge club and every day you have to prove why you're wearing this badge. At the moment, we're not doing enough as players. 

"Michael turned our season on its head last year and we played brilliant football and got brilliant results. This season we haven't performed well enough as individuals."

With seven points on the board after eight games, United have made their worst start to a league season since 1986-87 (four points from seven matches), and former Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher believes Carrick's time is up.

Speaking in his role as a Sky Sports pundit, Carragher said: "Manchester United need to make that change tonight, they need to make that decision.

"The fans have taken the side of Michael Carrick and it's not about him being the manager, it's about him being a huge figure in United's history.

"Those players have done nothing compared to teams of the past, so Michael Carrick is always going to win that fight with Bruno Fernandes, and rightly so, no matter how talented a player he is.

"But also, Manchester United as a football club, one of the biggest in the world, are 16th in the Premier League right now and that can't continue. 

"Michael Carrick needs to be relieved of his duties tonight – not just for the good of Manchester United, but also for the good of Michael Carrick.

"It's not nice watching him walking around the stadium at the end, he's really hurting and what's happening right now is not good for United and not good for Carrick."