"Carrick" has made his decision after managing Manchester United's first defeat before facing Villa in the Premier League battle for a UCL spot.
On 13 Mar 2026 GMT+7, Michael Carrick, interim manager of Manchester United, spoke at a press conference ahead of their 30th Premier League match of the 2025-26 season, hosting Aston Villa on Sunday, 15 Mar.
Both teams directly compete for a UEFA Champions League spot next season. Manchester United sits 3rd with 51 points, equal to Aston Villa in 4th, but the "Red Devils" have a better goal difference (Man United +11 / Villa +5).
Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run ended after taking over as interim coach (8 matches: 6 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss). In the latest game, they lost 1-2 away to Newcastle United, despite the "Magpies" playing with 10 men, but Man United still suffered defeat.
Michael Carrick commented on experiencing his first loss managing Man United before the crucial match against Aston Villa: "Villa is always a tough opponent. I understand that a first defeat feels different, but eventually it has to happen. Most teams have gone through this."
"In many ways, it has been a very good week. We are still in a position with much to fight for. The result against Newcastle was disappointing, but we have analyzed, learned, and corrected it. We have trained very well this week, and all players are ready to take the field."