Michael Carrick sends message to Man United players after Solskjaer sacking

Michael Carrick has told his Manchester United players to look at themselves and assess how they can improve after the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

The Norwegian was dismissed on Sunday morning after the 4-1 defeat at Watford proved to be the final straw. The fiasco at Vicarage Road was United’s seventh defeat in their last 13 games and performances have plummeted this season.

United have been shipping goals at an alarming rate, with 19 conceded in their last seven games in all competitions, and with the team in dire form and the performance at Watford a clear sign a reaction wasn’t going to be forthcoming under Solskjaer, club bosses felt they had to act.

Carrick has his own thoughts on what has gone wrong for United this season, but the caretaker manager is focusing on what is ahead rather than looking behind him.

But that hasn’t stopped him telling his players to take a look in the mirror and consider their own role in the demise of Solskjaer after nearly three years in charge.

“We could sit and talk through all sorts of different things, for me it’s not to be looking back. I know in my own mind what I could have done better and what could be improved,” said Carrick.

“I think it’s important that everyone looks at themselves, it’s easy to look elsewhere. As a player I was the same, look at yourself and see if you can improve and what’s next. What’s next is a flight to Spain and prepare for the team for tomorrow.”

Solskjaer addressed the players for the final time at Carrington on Sunday after he had been told he was being relieved of his duties. Carrick admitted emotions were running high as the well-liked Norwegian made his exit.

Carrick has also had the chance to speak to the players now he’s in caretaker charge, but with little clarity on how long his role is going to last he hasn’t gone in to any more detail than the Champions League game against Villarreal at this stage.

“I haven’t gone into the next couple of weeks at all, it’s about tomorrow night, anything past that is not for us to think about right now,” he said.

“It’s a big game of football, it’s one to go and enjoy and express yourself as players, for me it’s a new challenge, it’s something I’m really looking forward to. Everything is geared towards tomorrow night, then we’ve got a few days to think about what comes after that.”

Carrick hopes he can help turn United’s form around, beginning at the Estadio de la Ceramica, and asked what he could tell fans about where things have gone wrong this season, he preferred to focus on what is ahead of ahead.

“I would be speaking the truth about training and players wanting to do well for the club. But honestly sitting here I don’t think that counts for much. It is what happens now, getting results on the pitch,” he said.