Carrick silences doubters as Man Utd close on Champions League

Carrick silences doubters as Man Utd close on Champions LeagueTo play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedMedia caption, Man Utd boost Champions League hopes with victory at ChelseaBySimon StoneManchester United reporter at Stamford BridgePublished10 minutes ago4 Comments"You can lose games of football. It's about bouncing back. The world doesn't end because we lose."Michael Carrick's summary of last Monday's shock home defeat by Leeds, as he was assessing Manchester United's return to form with their 1-0 win at Chelsea, was typical of the man.Never too high in victory, never too low in defeat.He was like that as a player and nothing has changed now he is in the dug-out at a time when questions were starting to be asked of him as well as his team.The complaint has been that since Carrick's initial introduction, and specifically the draw at West Ham on 10 February, performances have been average.Results have been decent though, better than anyone else over the comparable period.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Manchester United's eight wins in their 12 Premier League games under Michael Carrick this season is as many as across their first 21 matches of the 2025-26 campaignIt took a first home defeat to Leeds since 1981 for the real moans to start.The calmness previously viewed as an asset became a negative. Inaction was seen as conservative. All week the question has been asked, is Carrick up to the job?Well, there was nothing aesthetically pleasing about this latest triumph.But given only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of all the post-Sir Alex Ferguson bosses had experienced the feeling of winning at Stamford Bridge, style was a secondary element.Chelsea may have hit the woodwork three times. They may have carried the more consistent threat. But Carrick's team was the one that delivered."It was a game for a result," he said. "And we managed to find it.&quo...