Carrick rejects Ferguson comparisons as Manchester United look to revive season

Michael Carrick says Manchester United must focus on improving their current situation rather than draw comparisons with Sir Alex Ferguson, as they prepare to host Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, 08 November 2026.

United are 17th in the Premier League with seven points from their opening nine matches, their worst start in the competition’s history. Their previous poorest beginning to an English top-flight season came in 1986-87, when they collected five points before manager Ron Atkinson was dismissed after 13 games and replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson.

United supporters are marking 40 years since Ferguson arrived at the club. Speaking at his news conference on Friday, Carrick told BBC Sport the anniversary was an occasion that deserved recognition.

“It is undoubtedly an event worth celebrating as a football club,” he said. “All the influence and success that followed came from him driving the club forward. Personally, I am perhaps closer to him and speak to him more now than I did when I was a player under him.

“Relationships change and develop over time, which is completely natural, but from the moment he arrived here, his influence on me as an individual was enormous.”

Carrick was also asked about comparisons between his difficult beginning as United manager and Ferguson’s early struggles at Old Trafford. He pointed to Tuesday’s Champions League comeback against Roma, when United recovered from two goals down to win 3-2.

“There are always more comparisons; you can always find something to compare with,” Carrick said. “It is up to us to move the team forward. Roma was a wonderful night, an exceptional one in which we scored goals seemingly from nowhere. I thought we played extremely well and deserved to win.

“But nothing is finished and we have achieved nothing yet. It was simply a moment in time that we have to use to move forward. We certainly need more moments like that.”

Carrick said United’s inconsistent performances had been shaped by small lapses, rather than a complete lack of quality. He added that the first half against Roma looked better when reviewed, while the opening period against Chelsea had also been “very good”.

“The fine details are what we need to correct and remove from our performance,” he said. “Small moments here and there change the course of matches. That is the reality of football that we have to manage. I think we are showing signs of improvement in that area, and we have to build on it.”

On whether managers are now given the same time Ferguson received, Carrick said football had changed significantly and that everyone had to deal with the modern reality.

“I understand the comparisons and why they are made, but we have to live in the present,” he said. “Everyone is passionate and desperate to win matches, and to do so as quickly as possible.”

Carrick confirmed that midfielder Carlos Baleba will miss the forthcoming international break and is expected to be out for several more weeks. Patrick Dorgu has completed only limited training after a lengthy series of thigh muscle injuries.

“We have to be patient and manage him carefully over the next two weeks,” Carrick said. “He is gradually returning, and we will see whether he can be involved at the end of this week.”