Man Utd’s stand-in captain says ‘something has to change’ as nightmare continues | Football

Harry Maguire says ‘something has to change quick’ at Manchester United, but does not want that to be manager Michael Carrick.

The Red Devils stretched their winless run to eight games in a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday.

It has been a dreadful start to the campaign for the club, winning just once in eight Premier League fixtures and sitting 16th in the table after the latest disappointment.

There has been off-field controversy as Lisandro Martinez spoke out against the club’s hierarchy after defeat to Atletico Madrid, while Bruno Fernandes hit out at Carrick and his coaching staff after a loss to Como.

Fernandes, the club captain, was left on the bench for the entirety of the defeat to the Cherries on Sunday, as Carrick punished him for his comments.

Things are going horribly wrong for the club legend, who impressed as interim manager last season before being given the role permanently ahead of this campaign.

His departure as manager now looks very likely, but Maguire says the players remain behind him, although something on the pitch must change.

‘Results haven’t been good enough, performances haven’t been good enough,’ Maguire told Sky Sports. ‘Individually we’ve got to look at ourselves and find something within ourselves to bring more to the team. That’s every player.

‘We can still have a good season but something has got to change quick. It’s been a disappointing start, no doubt about that.’

Asked if he hopes that change is not in the dugout, Maguire said: ‘Of course, we’re fully behind Michael.

‘He came into the team last season and turned our season around and managed to finish in third position and get Champions League football this season.

‘As individuals we’re not playing well enough.’

Carrick admitted he does not have the answer to why things are going to badly for Manchester United, suggesting he is running out of ideas.

‘Probably a number of things really, if I really had the answers I wouldn’t have let it happen,’ he said. ‘If I could do something about it and there was something that I could really control then I would have.

‘I’ve tried to do everything I can to not be in this position, of course I have this season and for a number of reasons, whatever they are, we’ve not been able to stop that happening to the position we’re in right now.’

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