Carrick Refutes 'Toxic Culture' Claims Amidst Manchester United's Struggles

Michael Carrick has asserted that Manchester United does not suffer from a "toxic culture" at Old Trafford, countering claims made by former manager Erik ten Hag. The current head coach stated that he maintains a strong working relationship with the club's ownership, chief executive Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Carrick acknowledged the team's difficult period, noting their six-game winless streak and the absence of nine senior players due to injury or illness ahead of their Champions League match against Como. Despite these challenges, he emphasized the commitment and togetherness within the squad.

"That's Erik's opinion," Carrick said when asked about Ten Hag's past criticisms, which included allegations of broken promises and a dysfunctional dressing room. "Why wouldn’t I (feel backed)? I’m in this position. I have a really good relationship with everybody at the football club. There are really no issues and no problems with any of that side."

He added, "Since I came back, the players and the staff have given us everything that they could give. We’ve had some good performances. We’ve had some performances that we want to do better and we can improve on. We’ve made some mistakes. But I have to say, the type of performance we put into the weekend and for large parts against Atletico, there’s a lot of togetherness there."

Carrick also addressed Ten Hag's comments regarding player power and broken promises, stating that the players and staff have been giving their all. He recognized that results are paramount and that his own future, like any manager in his position, will be subject to scrutiny.

Erik ten Hag, in contrast, had voiced a different perspective, stating to The Athletic, "They promised me loyalty, they promised me backing, they promised communication, that we get aligned. We spoke about the issues. But the promises, they didn’t keep." He also previously criticized Cristiano Ronaldo for letting the team down.

Manchester United faces significant squad issues, with Leny Yoro suspended and several key players like Lisandro Martinez, Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Benjamin Sesko, Luke Shaw, Patrick Dorgu, Ayden Heaven, and Manuel Ugarte sidelined. The return of Matthijs De Ligt from a lengthy back injury is a notable boost.

"It’s great to have him back," Carrick commented on De Ligt's return. "He’s had such a long journey of maybe 11 months or so of being out, being patient, worked hard. So we’re delighted to have him back. He’s fit, he’s ready and he’s been training for a number of weeks now, so he’s in a really good place."

The team arrived in Como amidst a grim weather forecast, with heavy rain and lightning expected. "There are no immediate concerns for me," Carrick said. "We're kind of used to the rain, so we'll make the most of it."

Teammate Andrey Santos echoed Carrick's sentiment on moving forward, addressing comments made by Lisandro Martinez that criticized the club's transfer strategy. "We know the comments about Licha," Santos said. "But I think now it’s done, so we have to move on to tomorrow. We are on the same page (as a group) and we believe in ourselves and our teammates."