Carrick promises Manchester United will 'come out fighting' at Atlético Madrid after worst league start in 40 years

Manchester United head into Tuesday's visit to Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium stuck in their worst league start in four decades, yet Michael Carrick insists his side will come out fighting. The English club landed in the Spanish capital with just six points from their Premier League campaign, their lowest tally at this stage since 1986-87, and without Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw after both picked up knocks in the weekend draw against Tottenham.

• Manchester United have six Premier League points, their worst start since 1986-87.
• Mainoo and Shaw are out in Madrid after picking up injuries against Tottenham.
• Carrick backs Bruno Fernandes and reveals the Portuguese has been carrying a knock.
• The coach says he feels no outside pressure and points to Arteta's early years at Arsenal.

Manchester United's six-point Premier League start is their worst in 40 years

Despite the gloomy numbers, Carrick struck a calm tone in his pre-match press conference. He admitted his team are in a difficult spot but preferred to focus on the bigger picture, drawing a comparison with Mikel Arteta's early Arsenal tenure. The United boss noted that the reigning champions finished well down the table in the Spanish coach's first two seasons before building a title-winning side.

To do something good, to do something great, you have to be able to do something difficult. We hoped for a lot more, we expected a lot more, and we are where we are.

Mainoo and Shaw miss the Metropolitano trip with injuries

United travelled without two regular starters. Mainoo and Shaw remained in England after picking up knocks in the league match against Tottenham, which ended all square. Their absences limit Carrick's options for a high-stakes European night, the second fixture of the Champions League league phase, in which United are looking to build on a convincing opening win.

Carrick backs Bruno Fernandes and reveals his fitness issue

The United manager also threw his support behind captain Bruno Fernandes, whose form has been questioned in recent weeks. Carrick revealed that the Portuguese midfielder had been playing through the pain of a knock and is now almost over it. He said Fernandes looked sharp in the morning training session and was eager for the Atlético game.

Carrick played down the significance of the injury and highlighted his captain's commitment. He pointed out that footballers routinely compete without being fully fit, adding that he himself played most of his career with some sort of issue. For the coach, Fernandes remains a top player and there is no doubt he will deliver again for the club.

No pressure and full trust in the process

Carrick claimed he does not feel the outside pressure and prefers to live in his own bubble. He said the dressing room is tight-knit and that he has complete confidence in the squad's ability to string together a run of wins. The word 'journey' featured heavily in his message, with the conviction that difficult moments show who is truly committed to the project.

The coach argued that life at United demands coping with adversity and that the response must start now, beginning with Tuesday's European fixture. Alongside their poor league form, the side also exited the Carabao Cup at Old Trafford against Brighton, leaving the Champions League as a welcome chance to rediscover winning feelings.

Arteta comparison and room for a turnaround

Carrick put the slow start into context by recalling that Arteta's Arsenal finished outside the top spots in his first Premier League campaigns before eventually lifting the title. The comparison was deliberate: United's coach wants to reinforce the idea that strong projects take time, without losing sight of the immediate demands of a club used to winning.

His message blends realism with ambition. He accepts the team are not where they expected to be, but insists the solution lies in staying calm, sticking to the plan and responding on the pitch. The supporters, he said, are desperate for something to celebrate, and the team owe them a performance.