Michael Carrick says United must keep winning after Chelsea defeat

Michael Carrick answered one question about his future with a single word after Chelsea vs Manchester United. "Yes!" was his reply when asked whether he expects to still be in charge for Roma, and the timing was awkward for a Manchester United side that is winless in nine matches across all competitions and sitting 17th in the Premier League with seven points from nine games.

Carrick's response after the Chelsea defeat

Carrick has not tried to dress the situation up. "We've got to keep moving forward and winning games, simple as that," he told the BBC, and he said the same idea in more detail when asked how he views the table.

"You can look at it like that, or you can look at how far you can move up the league quite quickly if you win football matches. That's the way it's got to be approached," he said. The line is basic, but it also fits the reality around Trafford: United have seven points, and the pressure is coming from the league table rather than from one bad night at Chelsea.

United's position before Aston Villa

There is some room for debate over the exact standing, with reports putting United either 16th or 17th after the defeat. The more important point is the same either way, they are in the relegation conversation after nine league games, which is a place the club has rarely been near so early in a season.

United's next match is at home to AS Roma in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, but the Premier League task is the one that will keep hanging over Carrick. Aston Villa visit Old Trafford on 8 November, and that fixture arrives with United still needing the first win that would calm everything down.