Michael Carrick dismisses claims Manchester United players are not trying for Jose Mourinho
Michael Carrick has dismissed claims that some Manchester United players are not playing for Jose Mourinho, insisting that is “definitely not the case.”
Carrick was appointed to Mourinho’s backroom staff after ending his playing career in May, having made 464 appearances for the club.
The 37-year-old remains a well-liked and respected presence in the Old Trafford dressing room, though United’s difficult start to the season has led to reports of wider dressing room unrest.
Mourinho has publicly criticised the attitude of his players on several occasions in recent months and his relationship with club record signing Paul Pogba has come under particular scrutiny.
Carrick, however, believes any suggestion that United’s players are not playing for their manager is wide of the mark.
“As a player at United the expectation is there, the scrutiny is there and nowadays every little move you make people jump on it and judge it,” he told Sky Sports.
“The lads are human beings who make mistakes. It’s too easy to throw out a player is not trying. It’s definitely not the case.”
Carrick expected to leave United at the end of the 2015-16 season but was kept on by Mourinho, who replaced Louis van Gaal as United manager that summer.
The former England international is now developing his coaching skills as part of Mourinho’s staff and admits that he owes much to the Portuguese.
“He’s been fantastic with me,” Carrick said of Mourinho. “The situation I’m in at the moment, my first job after being a player so there’s huge element of learning and trying to soak up as much as I can to improve myself.
“But at the same time I’m there to do a job and there’s a responsibility there. He’s been great with me. He’s given me plenty of things to do and at the same time he’s trying to help me develop. I couldn’t have asked any more of him.”
