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In his pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester United's fixture against Bournemouth, Michael Carrick took the unusual approach of speaking before any questions were posed.
The Red Devils head into Sunday's game seeking a reaction to a 4–1 thrashing by Como in the Champions League, a result Carrick described as "unacceptable" in his post-match comments.
On a broader level, United are mired in a troubling seven-game run without a win, a far cry from how the side closed out last season with the strongest record in the Premier League across the final 17 matches—surpassing even title winners Arsenal.
So, when he settled into his seat to face the press once more, it was evident the manager had things he needed to address—chiefly speaking about doing right by the supporters, especially those who invested time and money traveling to Italy that week, upholding the "values" the club has built over generations, the "humility" and "hard work" it requires, that "entitlement cannot" exist, and that United is greater than any single individual.
"I'll start today," Carrick promptly told assembled journalists on Friday, rather than waiting for an opening question. Without notes in hand, he paused briefly to gather his thoughts before speaking uninterrupted for nearly six minutes.
"Recently, we haven't had a good time, I think that's pretty obvious, so I totally accept that, what we're going through at the moment," he said.
"We had five months of relative success in a spell where I was happy with things that I was seeing and what we were doing as a team. We haven't done well enough lately, I think that's pretty obvious to say. We've had a spell we're really not happy with."
Como Performance 'Bad for a Lot of Reasons'
"Wednesday was a dreadful evening, for many reasons. It was a bad night and it stung deeply. It obviously hurt me to watch us perform like that and to see how the match unfolded.
"It was, as I said after the game, truly unacceptable for us to play in that manner. The supporters are an enormous part of this football club to me—they made the effort and spent the time and money to come and back us on Wednesday. And to carry the feeling we all had after the final whistle was a very difficult moment. I think that's pretty obvious.
"My responsibility is to put a team on the pitch that represents this football club, represents the supporters, and one they can take pride in through the identity we've shown. We have drifted from that in certain recent games, which I am completely and fully aware of and am actively addressing. I think it's vital that we all acknowledge that—I certainly do—and our supporters are of the utmost importance to me and to this football club.
"For them to feel the way they felt during those five months at the start of the year—that connection, energy, intensity, enjoyment and passion we all shared throughout that period—is something we need to recapture, and we will recapture it. I firmly believe that, and it's important we acknowledge that we haven't been delivering that of late."
Man Utd Values Must Be Upheld
"The foundation and values of this football club have been ingrained over many years, and I fully understand and embrace every one of them. It comes down to humility, being humble, being hardworking, and taking genuine pride in those values. There is a resilience about this football club that has been demonstrated for a very long time—whether that's bouncing back from adversity, making comebacks, scoring late goals, achieving success, or sustaining it. There's a resilience in this football club that runs incredibly deep, and I've witnessed it firsthand, I've felt it.
"I'm aware of some of the individuals and know closely those who have been part of that history. As I said after the game, Manchester United has always been, and always will be, bigger than any single individual. Bigger than me, bigger than any of the players, and it always has been.
"I'm fortunate enough to know some players and to have played alongside some myself … Ryan Giggs, arguably one of the greatest ever to represent this football club. It was never about Ryan Giggs—it was about Manchester United. Wayne Rooney was the club's all-time top scorer, yet his greatest priority was playing for the team, sacrificing for the team and doing what was best for Manchester United."
It's About Respecting the Club
"Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest manager of all time in my view, and working alongside him—his overriding priority was Manchester United. And going back to Sir Matt [Busby] and Sir Bobby [Charlton], the resilience they showed and the way they rebuilt this football club was beyond belief.
"Again, it was rooted in humility, hard work, and we can never lose that, and I won't allow us to lose that. We've had it for a period. I feel very strongly about that. It inspires me greatly to live up to that standard and keep driving toward it with the players and the group—we demonstrated it for a good stretch of time and we've shown we're capable of it.
"Yes, we're in a moment where things haven't gone well, so we need to show exactly what it means—respect this football club, respect what it takes to be here, respect what it takes to win, and what you must do to win.
"I'm not entitled to be here—entitlement cannot exist at this football club. We have an incredible past and an incredible history. That doesn't mean you're automatically entitled to win. I'm fully aware that it demands hard work, significant sacrifice, total investment in the football club, and doing many things that aren't always pleasant—but you have to do it for each other and you have to win. I think it's vital we live up to that, push those values, and ensure our supporters feel that going forward.
"We've had it, we've lost our way a little bit, if I'm being completely honest, and we'll get it back. I'm absolutely convinced we'll get it back. I respect this football club and I respect what it takes, because it means everything to me."