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Once Dimitar Berbatov could bring himself to glance at the Premier League standings showing Manchester United languishing in 18th position, the former striker despondently conceded that his old club "deserve to be there."
Such is the bleak reality engulfing Manchester United these days, supporters couldn't even take pleasure in Manchester City's loss to Nottingham Forest. Any comfort that might have been drawn from a third consecutive league defeat for their "noisy neighbors" was dampened by the sight of Forest leapfrogging them in the standings.
Following a dismal run of just one victory from their opening nine fixtures of the new Premier League campaign, United ended Saturday, Nov. 7 in the division's bottom three. It marks the first time the record English champions have found themselves in the relegation zone at this late a stage of a top-flight season since 1986.
Man Utd's Worst Starts to a Top-Flight Season After Nine Games
Berbatov experienced a vastly different Manchester United. The distinguished Bulgarian forward never finished lower than second place across his four seasons at Old Trafford, claiming two league titles while also appearing in two Champions League finals. When confronted with the club's current troubling situation, the beIN Sports analyst covered his face with his hands.
"The way that United are playing at times, they deserve to be there, honestly," Berbatov ultimately confessed.
Michael Carrick's Damning Admission Over Man Utd Future
Having presided over this historically dreadful start to a new season, Michael Carrick's position remains understandably uncertain. Berbatov was far from alone among those with ties to United in viewing the table with dismay.
Despite the Champions League heroics against Roma during the week, Carrick acknowledged that he had yet to receive confirmation that his services would be needed beyond the November international break, which kicks off following United's Premier League clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.
When pressed on whether there had been any fresh clarity regarding his future, Carrick simply replied: "No."
"Just carry on as absolute normal," was his approach. "Whatever is going to happen is going to happen."
For Carrick, all attention was directed toward the visit of an Aston Villa side managed by the man many would prefer to see in the Old Trafford dugout, Unai Emery. That prospect appears remote as Villa desperately work to secure their influential manager on an even longer and more lucrative deal, yet it still makes for a pointed encounter for Carrick.
"I'm really looking forward to the next game," United's current manager insisted, "playing at home on the back of the other night. The supporters are hopefully looking forward to coming energized and feeling good about what they might see, and we've got to repay that."
Escaping the relegation zone would represent the first step toward making good on that promise.