Carrick Reveals Regular Ferguson and Solskjaer Talks at Man United 2026

Key Points

• According to Michael Carrick, he has been in constant communication with Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer during Manchester United’s poor run of form in the early stages of the new season.
• There was “nothing specific” from the discussions, while both men were described by Carrick as being close friends.
• The club is still winless in seven games across all competitions following their 4-1 defeat against Como in the Champions League.
• This is Manchester United’s worst ever start to a league season in almost four decades, reports ESPN and Sky Sports.
• Carrick began his pre-Bournemouth press conference with an opening speech which highlighted the need for humility, work and accountability.
• Carrick claimed that the club “lost its way a little bit”, but said that United would restore its identity.
• Carrick rejected claims about division within the squad following statements made by Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez.
• Manchester United will host Bournemouth at Old Trafford in Sunday’s game with the match due to kick-off at 14:00 GMT.
• According to Carrick, his job is to lead and field a team representing the club and fans.

FC United of Manchester (Manchester Mirror) October 25, 2026 — Under-pressure Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has revealed that he remains in regular contact with Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as scrutiny intensifies following the club’s worst start to a league season in four decades.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Carrick said he speaks with both former United managers frequently, but stressed that their discussions have not involved any specific intervention over the team’s current difficulties.

“I talk to both of them quite frequently, to be honest,” Carrick said, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News. “There’s nothing specific from those discussions. I have a close relationship with both, and we often chat. This week is no different.”

The comments came before United’s Premier League meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Carrick is seeking a first win in eight matches after United’s 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League on Wednesday extended their winless run to seven games across all competitions.

Why is Michael Carrick under pressure at Manchester United?

Carrick’s position has come under increasing pressure after a run of poor results. United sit 13th in the Premier League following their worst start in the competition’s history, according to RFI, while ESPN reported that the club are enduring their worst start to a season in 40 years.

The 4-1 loss at Como was particularly damaging. Nico Paz scored twice, with Anastasios Douvikas and Jacobo Ramón also on target, before Joshua Zirkzee netted a stoppage-time consolation for United. ESPN described the result as one of United’s most damaging European defeats and noted that Carrick apologised to the travelling supporters at full time.

Speaking after the match, Carrick told TNT Sports, as reported by ESPN:

“It was more than disappointing. I think everybody has got to take responsibility for that. I 100% take responsibility for the overall team and the performance — that’s where it stops.”

He added:

“As a supporter of this football club for so long, and I care a lot about this football club, to see a performance like that is unacceptable.”

What did Carrick say in his pre-match speech?

Carrick used the opening of his Friday press conference to deliver a speech lasting about six minutes, according to BBC Sport. He acknowledged that United had “not done well enough lately” and described the defeat by Como as “a bad night for a lot of reasons”.

“My responsibility is to get a team on the pitch that represents this football club, represents the supporters and is one they can be proud of with the identity that we show,” Carrick said, according to BBC Sport. “We have gone away from that just recently in certain games, which I’m fully aware of and definitely doing something about.”

In comments published by Manchester United’s official website, Carrick said the club’s values were based on humility and hard work. He referenced Ferguson, Sir Matt Busby and Sir Bobby Charlton while arguing that resilience had long been central to United’s identity.

“Sir Alex Ferguson, the best manager of all time, the greatest, for me, and working with him, and his main priority was Manchester United,” Carrick said in his official opening statement.

He continued: “We’ve kind of lost our way a little bit, if I’m totally honest, and we’ll get it back. I’m totally convinced we’ll get it back.”

Are Ferguson and Solskjaer advising Carrick?

Carrick did not describe his conversations with Ferguson or Solskjaer as formal advice sessions. Instead, he said the contact reflected long-standing personal relationships.

As reported by BBC Sport, Carrick said:

“I speak with both of them quite frequently. There’s nothing specific about that; I maintain a close relationship with both. It’s just the same as any other week.”

Ferguson signed Carrick as a player in 2006, while Solskjaer later appointed him to his coaching staff at Old Trafford. The Manchester Evening News noted that both men have played significant roles in Carrick’s United career, first as a player and later as a coach.

BBC Sport also reported that Solskjaer visited United’s training base in Trondheim before a pre-season win over Rosenborg in July, where he met Carrick and his coaching staff. Ferguson, who is approaching his 85th birthday, continues to attend United matches and was present for the club’s 1-1 draw with Leeds United last week.

Is the Manchester United dressing room divided?

Carrick rejected suggestions that the squad is divided. His response followed public comments from captain Bruno Fernandes and defender Lisandro Martinez after consecutive defeats.

According to BBC Sport, Carrick said: “We just need to get back to doing what we do best — and we will.”

Fernandes had criticised the tactical approach following the Como defeat. As reported by ESPN, he said: “That was a decision from the staff to not press man-to-man and sometimes leave space behind. That’s on the manager and on the staff to see it, it’s not on me.”

Sky Sports reported that the defeat exposed defensive, attacking and physical issues, while also opening divisions within the camp after Fernandes questioned the tactical plan.

Carrick, however, sought to draw a line under the internal discussion. He said the responsibility in his position was “to lead”, adding, according to BBC Sport: “I’ll hold that umbrella for me to stay wet and everyone else stay dry.”

What did Carrick say about Manchester United’s identity?

Carrick repeatedly returned to the theme of responsibility, standards and club values. He said entitlement could not exist at Manchester United and that involvement with the club required hard work and sacrifice.

“Manchester United always has been, and always will be, bigger than any single individual,” Carrick said, according to BBC Sport. He included himself and the players in that assessment.

He also said United needed to restore the connection, intensity, enjoyment and passion that he believed had been present during a stronger earlier period of the season. In his official statement, Carrick said the club had enjoyed “five months of relative success”, but accepted that recent performances had not met the required standard.

“We haven’t done well enough lately, I think that’s pretty obvious to say,” Carrick said in the statement published by Manchester United. “We’ve had a spell we’re really not happy with.”

What happens next for Carrick and Manchester United?

United host Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday at 14:00 GMT. Carrick said his side must “move in a different direction” against Bournemouth, according to Manchester United’s official website.

The match represents an opportunity for United to end a run of seven matches without victory. Sky Sports reported that the club’s winless sequence includes three draws and three defeats in all competitions before the Como match, contributing to their worst league start in 40 years.

Carrick said after the Como defeat that his focus was not on his own future. “It’s not about me,” he told TNT Sports, as reported by ESPN. “It’s about digesting the game and how it went. That’s the most important thing right now.”

Background of the development

Carrick was appointed as Ruben Amorim’s successor in January, ahead of his former manager and teammate Solskjaer, according to BBC Sport. He spent 12 years as a United player and was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2008 under Ferguson.

His early period in charge included a more positive run, which Carrick referenced in his pre-match statement. However, results have deteriorated sharply, with United losing back-to-back Champions League matches by multiple goals for the first time since 2003, according to ESPN.

Ferguson and Solskjaer remain prominent figures in United’s recent history. Ferguson managed Carrick during the club’s most successful modern era, while Solskjaer gave Carrick a coaching role before later becoming United manager himself.

Prediction: How can this affect Manchester United supporters?

For Manchester United supporters, Carrick’s comments are likely to shape expectations ahead of the Bournemouth match. His public acceptance of responsibility may reassure some fans that he recognises the scale of the problem, particularly after he described the Como performance as unacceptable.

The outcome against Bournemouth could influence the mood around Old Trafford. A victory would end the winless run and give Carrick evidence that his call for humility, hard work and a restored identity is producing a response on the pitch.

If United fail to win, pressure on Carrick is likely to increase further, given the club’s winless sequence and the scrutiny created by the Como defeat. Supporters will therefore watch not only the result, but also whether the team shows greater intensity, organisation and commitment than in recent matches.