Carrick Dismisses Claim He Has Two Games to Save United Job Ahead of Roma Clash

Michael Carrick has brushed off suggestions that he has only two games left to save his job as Manchester United head coach, as he prepares his struggling side for Tuesday's Champions League game against AS Roma.

Carrick's position at Old Trafford has become increasingly precarious after Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, which stretched United's winless run in all competitions to nine matches, their longest without a victory since 1984.

At his pre-match press conference on Monday, he was asked whether he felt he had just two matches left in charge, against Roma and Aston Villa in the Premier League. The Villa game comes directly before the international break, which could give the United hierarchy a window to make a change. The 45-year-old, who is in his first full season in charge, dismissed the idea. "No, not at all," he said. "If you look into the future, you never know what's going to happen. I don't know what's going to happen. That doesn't change the way I feel, how we're preparing for the game tomorrow." He added that he is "really looking forward" to the Roma game, saying: "You might think I'm crazy with the results we've had and what's going on, but I genuinely can't wait."

Carrick also said he has "no concerns" about the commitment of defender Lisandro Martínez, who was sent off in the defeat at Stamford Bridge after previously voicing frustration over squad investment. "Things happen in football, sometimes you do things, sometimes you make decisions, sometimes you make mistakes... but the commitment is not an issue for sure," he said.

Despite the poor start to the season, Carrick insisted the mood in the squad remains solid. "Perception is a funny thing," he said. "I've said it before, the commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, I don't question that at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but commitment is not a thing at all."

United are 17th in the Premier League, one place above the relegation zone, with only seven points from their first nine matches. In the Champions League, they sit 20th in the league phase after a 4-1 defeat to Como, leaving their qualification hopes in the balance.

Also at the press conference, 21-year-old midfielder Kobbie Mainoo said the team can turn things around. "We've not had the results we've wanted," he said. "But we need to look forward now. There's big, big games ahead and I feel like we're one win away from changing that."

Carrick has fond memories of facing Roma. He scored twice in Sir Alex Ferguson's side's famous 7-1 Champions League quarter-final second-leg win over the Italians in 2007. "It was a magical night, I have to say," he recalled. "The fact that I scored a couple and that was very unusual gives me great memories, but it was more the emotion of the night. I have to say, it was a special one."