Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has called for a return to the club's core values ahead of Sunday's Premier League match against Bournemouth. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Carrick addressed his team's recent struggles and the need for humility.
He said Manchester United have not done well enough lately, describing a recent Champions League defeat by Como as a bad night. Carrick stated his responsibility is to field a team that truly represents the club and its supporters, listing the required values as being humble, hard work and pride in upholding those standards. The manager insisted he would not let the club lose that identity, adding that Manchester United is and always will be bigger than any single individual. He was clear that entitlement has no place at the football club and dismissed any talk of a divided dressing room.
Carrick's task is to lift a side that has conceded 14 goals in its first seven league games, leaving them with just 7 points and in 13th place in the table. Their next fixture is against a Bournemouth team that has scored 9 goals in its last three matches across all competitions.
Bournemouth's strong form
Bournemouth arrive at Old Trafford in confident mood, having won their last three matches in all competitions. Their most recent result was a commanding 3-0 victory over AC Milan on Thursday, with goals from Justin Kluivert, Marcus Tavernier and Amine Adli. That followed a 2-0 win over Sunderland and a 3-0 triumph against Sturm Graz. This positive run has lifted Bournemouth to 15th in the Premier League table, where they have six points from seven games, having recorded one win, three draws and three losses. Their overall form this season shows nine goals scored and thirteen conceded, giving them a goal difference of minus four. They are currently fifteen points behind the league leaders, Manchester City.
Their next challenge is a trip to face a Manchester United side sitting 13th on Saturday 25 October. The match kicks off at 14:00 GMT on Sunday and will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds. Bournemouth's top scorer this season is Marcus Tavernier with four goals, and the team will look to extend their winning run at a ground where United have shown vulnerability. Bournemouth's recent form over their last five games reads three wins and two defeats, a sequence that includes a 5-1 loss to Chelsea and a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool.
Carrick's public focus on restoring fundamentals shows the pressure at Old Trafford. For Bournemouth, the task is to maintain their recent momentum against a side in a period of introspection.
The report in full is at bbc.co.uk
