Manchester United will be aiming to keep their UEFA Champions League hopes alive when they host Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday in a must-win encounter.
The English club heads into the fixture on the back of a nine-match winless run in all competitions, leaving them under intense pressure ahead of one of their biggest games of the season.
United are also struggling domestically, sitting 17th in the Premier League, while defeats to Atletico Madrid and Como have dropped them to 21st in the Champions League standings after three matches.
With only the top 24 teams advancing to the knockout phase, victory against Roma has become crucial for Michael Carrick’s side.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Carrick said he is eager for the challenge and believes the match offers an opportunity to change the direction of the season.
“You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had and what’s going on, but genuinely, I really can’t wait for the game,” Carrick said.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
The United manager acknowledged that the future remains uncertain but insisted his full attention is on helping the team produce a memorable performance.
“Listen, I can’t look into the future, you never know what’s going to happen. That doesn’t change the way I feel. Whatever happens is going to happen in whatever direction it goes in, but we want to make it a big night tomorrow,” he said.
Carrick also defended Lisandro Martinez, who has faced criticism following his red card against Chelsea.
“Things happen in football,” he said.
“Sometimes you do things; you make a decision, you make mistakes. Sometimes it goes well for you.”
He also rejected claims that his players have lost commitment despite the club’s disappointing run.
“Perceptions are a funny thing,” he said.
“They can make things look all sorts of different ways. The dressing room is a good place. I’ve said it before, I don’t question the commitment of the players, to the club and to me and to each other. We need to play better. We can make better decisions. But commitment’s not a thing at all.”
Roma arrive at Old Trafford with confidence, having suffered only one defeat this season, a Champions League loss to Real Madrid after surrendering a 3-1 lead in the closing minutes. United, meanwhile, know that anything short of victory could further damage their hopes of reaching the next stage of Europe’s elite competition.
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