Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has rejected suggestions that managing the Old Trafford side is an impossible task.
Carrick is fighting to keep his position following a troubling seven-match winless streak ahead of Sunday’s Premier League home fixture against Bournemouth (14:00 GMT).
Scrutiny has intensified after senior players Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes publicly criticised the club’s transfer strategy and Carrick’s tactical approach.
Should Carrick be dismissed, United would make their third managerial change in three seasons. It would also mean that eight permanent coaches, including Ralf Rangnick, had departed without coming close to matching the success achieved by Sir Alex Ferguson before his retirement in 2013.
Some believe the intense attention generated by high-profile former players with media platforms, along with popular fan channels, has made the United job exceptionally difficult.
Asked whether the club had become impossible to manage, Carrick gave a direct response: “No.”
Nevertheless, he disagrees with several assessments of his team made by former players and other commentators.
He is particularly frustrated by accusations that his players fail to cover enough ground or apply pressure when the opposition has possession.
Carrick acknowledged that his team’s overall display in Wednesday’s 4-1 Champions League loss at Como was “unacceptable”.
Even so, he believes claims that his side does not press opponents are not supported by a detailed assessment of their performances.
“People need to be cautious when simply accusing players of ‘not running’,” he said.
“We have won plenty of matches over time, and pressing represents only one small element of the game.
“There are many different actions that can be described as pressing. You have to consider its purpose, whether it suits the team’s strengths and whether it leaves other areas exposed.
“The term is being used too casually at present. A team does not always have to press to win a match; it can be necessary in certain situations but not in others.
“Running figures alone do not determine the outcome of football matches.
“Our priority is to rediscover many of the qualities we showed last season and during periods of the current campaign.”
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