Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has revealed that he remains in regular contact with legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and ex-United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he attempts to steer the club out of a difficult spell.
Carrick confirmed that his conversations with the two former managers have continued despite mounting pressure over Manchester United’s performances, insisting that their latest discussions were nothing unusual because of his close relationships with both men.
The revelation comes ahead of United’s Premier League clash against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Carrick under increasing scrutiny after a run of seven consecutive matches without a victory.
The Englishman has faced criticism following a disappointing 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, which intensified concerns about his team’s tactical approach, work rate and ability to compete consistently.
However, Carrick has rejected suggestions that Manchester United have become an unmanageable club, expressing confidence that his players can respond positively and improve their performances.
Speaking ahead of the Bournemouth encounter, the former United midfielder explained that he regularly seeks conversations with Ferguson and Solskjaer, although he stressed that their contact should not be interpreted as an emergency response to the club’s current difficulties.
“I speak to both of them quite regularly, to be honest. There’s nothing particular from that. I’m close to both of them and we do have regular conversations, so it’s nothing different this week,” Carrick said.
Ferguson played a significant role in Carrick’s playing career, signing the midfielder from Tottenham Hotspur in 2006. The former England international subsequently became an important member of the United squad that enjoyed considerable domestic and European success under the Scottish manager.
Their relationship has continued since Carrick moved into coaching and management, with Ferguson remaining a familiar presence around Old Trafford.
Solskjaer also shares a close relationship with Carrick. The Norwegian managed him during his playing days at United before appointing him to his coaching staff.
Carrick later worked alongside Solskjaer as part of the club’s coaching team, gaining experience that helped prepare him for his own managerial responsibilities.
Solskjaer also visited United’s training base in Trondheim during pre-season to spend time with Carrick and his backroom staff, further demonstrating that their relationship extends beyond their previous working arrangement.
While Carrick has not indicated that either former manager has offered specific advice about the current crisis, his confirmation of their regular conversations highlights the continued connections between different generations of Manchester United leadership.
The immediate challenge, however, remains restoring results on the pitch.
United’s disappointing performances have attracted criticism from within the squad, with defender Lisandro Martínez and captain Bruno Fernandes raising concerns about aspects of the club’s recruitment and tactical approach.
Carrick has defended his team’s playing style, arguing that the discussion surrounding pressing and running statistics has become overly simplistic.
He maintained that pressing is only one component of football and insisted that teams can win matches through different tactical approaches.
“You’ve got to be careful with just saying ‘not running’,” Carrick said.
“We’ve won a lot of games over a period of time and this pressing thing; pressing is one small part of football.”
The United manager acknowledged, however, that the performance against Como fell well below the standards expected at the club.
He stressed that his players must return to the level they demonstrated during stronger periods of the previous season and the current campaign.
Carrick also dismissed suggestions that Manchester United had become impossible to manage, responding firmly when questioned about that assessment.
His comments reflect an attempt to defend his squad while acknowledging the seriousness of the situation facing the club.
United’s home meeting with Bournemouth therefore represents an important opportunity to demonstrate improvement and ease the scrutiny surrounding Carrick’s leadership.
The manager has insisted that he continues to trust his players despite their recent struggles, backing them to produce a significantly better performance.
“I definitely trust them, 100%,” he said.
“We’ll be a different team on Sunday. We have to be a different team on Sunday.”
For Carrick, the priority is translating that confidence into results. Regular conversations with Ferguson and Solskjaer may provide valuable personal connections during a difficult period, but the manager understands that his future will ultimately depend on the team’s performances.
As United prepare to face Bournemouth, Carrick must find a way to restore consistency, rebuild confidence and demonstrate that his side can respond to adversity.
The support of two figures closely associated with Manchester United’s past offers an important backdrop to the story, but the immediate test will take place on the pitch at Old Trafford.
