Manchester United will travel to Leeds United for their Premier League Matchweek 7 fixture. Following the lifting of the media embargo, the embargoed section of Manchester United manager Michael Carrick’s pre-match press conference has been released.
Hi, Michael. Omar Berrada (the club CEO) previously spoke about wanting to win the Premier League title before 2028. Do you think that is a realistic ambition for the club and given its current direction of development?
I think it depends on what you mean by “the direction things are heading at the moment.” We went through a spell without winning, didn't we? If I remember correctly—and please correct me if I'm wrong—we're currently about five points off the top four. So it's very important to stay objective and keep things in perspective, and things change very quickly in football.
I think back to when we first took over the team in January. We were much further away from third place then, but we ended up finishing third. So it depends on where you focus your attention. Focusing only on potential problems or difficulties that need to be resolved is a completely different mindset from focusing on the goals you could reach and what you could achieve.
For us, winning the Premier League would obviously be a huge step forward, there is no doubt about that, but it is absolutely what we are working towards. We have to keep pushing ourselves to achieve it. We have won one game and lost one in the Champions League, right? We are still in it, still in contention. And in the Premier League, we are also in the race to push towards the top, which is a challenge. Given our recent results, people tend to focus on the negatives, and things can look a little bleak. But the key is for us to turn things around, and in reality, we are not that far away from doing so.
When you got the job in May this year, did Omar mention this target? Did Jason (football director Wilcox) talk to you about it? Was it also mentioned at the time?
I think that for everyone at this club, the goal is always to win. From my perspective, there is no specific timeframe for that; the principle is that the sooner, the better.I think everyone understands that we are still moving towards that goal step by step, and I have said enough about that already. We are working hard to build something, trying to reach a level we have not reached for a long time. I know that, and sometimes you have to take different routes and paths to reach the summit. In a sense, we are currently on that journey of trying to reach the top, and we need to manage and navigate it properly. We will overcome the difficulties step by step and work hard to achieve our goal.
Michael, I know there has been a lot of attention on Lisandro (Martínez) recently, but regarding Bruno (Fernandes), he has clearly been this team's best player for many years. He is deeply invested emotionally, and his concern for the club and the team is plain to see. Wayne Rooney mentioned this week that, watching Bruno this season, having previously played through injury, he felt Bruno looked a little fed up, with an "Oh, here we go again" expression on his face. If this continues, he could reach breaking point. Bruno also started slowly last season, but then turned things around and ended up being named Player of the Year. I just wondered where you think Bruno is at right now. As a captain and a player, do you think he is feeling particularly frustrated at the moment? He obviously wants to compete at the highest level. What is his mindset like right now?
I think this is actually an issue for the team as a whole. There is no denying that certain things at the start of the season, whether results or goals, have caused some frustration and disappointment. But this is by no means just about Bruno. It is something we are all facing together.For me, I can completely understand those feelings. But as soon as a couple of games do not go to plan, a lot of people start thinking, “This has happened before, and now it is happening again.” That is not our focus. What we are thinking about is: what do we need to do to get back to doing what we do best?
There were still plenty of positives from the matches over the past few days that we can take into the games ahead, including our team spirit, unity and mentality. That cycle, if you want to call it that, or that downward trend and the feeling of “here we go again” must not be allowed to exist in our dressing room or at this club. We need to think about what is possible. That is absolutely how I approach things: look up, see what is possible, and be clear about what adjustments we need to make to get there. This is not down to one person; it is the responsibility of everyone in the team.
Bruno is the team's leader and driving force. His reliability and outstanding performances, playing every three days, have inspired so many of his teammates. But if he goes through a dip in form, how important is it for others to step up and take on that leadership role, as Bruno has done in the past? How crucial is it for others to rise to the occasion?
We have to share responsibility across every aspect of what we do, from our daily training and the quality of our play to our performances on the pitch and being ready to step in at any time. Sometimes it comes down to the players, sometimes to the coaching staff and support staff, and sometimes we all need to support one another and step up when we need each other most.
This is still not about any one individual. When things are going well, Bruno does not deserve all the credit; equally, when things are not going so well, he certainly does not bear all the responsibility. He has a huge influence on us as a team and on the entire squad. He is an outstanding footballer.Just because he may not be making headlines or producing highlight-reel moments as often as he did last season does not mean he cannot or will not do so. I am very confident he will be back to his best very soon.
Sorry, another question about Bruno. During the international break, the Portugal head coach said, or suggested, that they needed to manage his playing time a little. I know he is the kind of player who wants to play every game, but is he carrying an injury? Do you need to manage his fitness carefully?
Yes, as I mentioned a few days ago, he had been carrying an injury or dealing with some physical discomfort. A lot of players play through minor injuries, and that often gets overlooked. People sometimes take it for granted that everyone is 100% fit, but that is often not the case.So, yes, he had been dealing with a few minor physical issues, but to be honest, he has pretty much put those behind him now, and he will get back to his best.
So, he was substituted on Tuesday not because he was still experiencing discomfort at the time, correct?
No.