Carrick brushes off questions over his Manchester United future

Michael Carrick said he expected a rough patch this season and dismissed questions about how long he will remain Manchester United's manager, insisting concerns over his future are not a current focus. Appointed permanently after finishing third and securing Champions League football following a caretaker stint last season, Carrick said he and his squad must concentrate on preparing for upcoming fixtures. United have managed only four points from their first four Premier League matches and were knocked out of the League Cup when Brighton came from behind to win 3-2 at Old Trafford. Carrick described the recent run as a brief period in which results have not gone their way and said small margins have made the difference in several games. The manager pointed to instances of misfortune and officiating errors that have affected outcomes, citing an incident in which Erling Haaland's winning goal for Manchester City involved an offside in the build-up that VAR officials failed to spot; referees' chiefs later apologised. Carrick also noted Everton salvaged a draw with a long-range strike from Ainsley Maitland-Niles that denied United victory. Looking ahead, Carrick said the team will work through the current difficulties and that winning matches remains the most effective remedy for confidence and criticism. He confirmed the squad could receive a boost for Sunday's trip to Fulham with Luke Shaw nearing a return from injury and Carlos Baleba available for selection after his £70 million move from Brighton.