After Manchester United drew 1-1 with Fulham away in Round 5 of the Premier League, manager Carrick attended a press conference to answer questions from the media.

Michael, how do you assess your team's performance and today's result?

It's really disappointing not to win; we came here with the objective of winning. I thought we gave a lot and were completely deserving of a victory, just looking at the chances we created. Their goalkeeper made a couple of excellent saves and may have been named Man of the Match, and we also hit the woodwork twice. Earlier on, we really should have been ahead on the scoresheet.

They had a brief spell of pressure in the second half that led to the goal we conceded—a really unfortunate own goal. But I was very pleased with how the team responded after that. I thought everyone did well trying to get back into the game, and although the equalizer came quite late, I think the lads handled it very well. Everyone stayed calm, patient, and also pushed higher with strong tactical intent, and ultimately it paid off, ending with a positive result. No complacency—it's a small but solid step for us. We came here to take all three points, but at least we've picked up a point and can build from that moving forward.

You mentioned achieving a positive step forward. Given the poor results over the past few weeks, how will these points help as you head into the upcoming international break?

Yes, certainly not ideal. I've said before that a dip like this would come eventually. It seemed like there were signs early in the season, and looking back, we've faced opponents where every shot from 25 yards goes into the top corner, controversial goals that shouldn't have been given, and today an own goal. There are always these frustrating situations in football. The difference between winning and losing is often very small, and things can change in an instant. I know we can do better, and in some areas, we need to improve. But at the same time, I'm not down or discouraged because I think we've also shown some very positive signs.

Hello Michael. At certain stages of the match, the team seemed to lack a bit of dynamism in attack, and it felt like the opposition was sometimes playing with more intensity than you. Also, statistics from last weekend mentioned an issue with running. Can you see a specific reason for this right now? Is fitness a concern, or is it simply down to how the match unfolded?

No, I don't particularly think so. Based on our performance in the final minutes, I didn't see that. I was quite pleased with how we finished the match; I thought we were very strong in the closing stages, constantly pushing forward, so I don't think that was an issue.

Clearly it's been a challenging week for the players, but the way they finished the match and the resilience they showed to secure the draw was impressive. They could easily have given up and felt sorry for themselves tonight. Do you think they've shown the right mentality and character to help the team through this difficult period?

Yes, that's a big thing. No complacency, but although we only earned a point when we wanted to win, all of this is part of the team's learning and development process. As I said, this is the first time we've gone through such a difficult two-week period—not long, but certainly a spell where results haven't quite met expectations. During this process, people will understand each other better. They understand me more because we haven't been through this before, and I'm understanding them better, both as individuals and as a team.

How we respond, how we perform going forward, how we react—all of this is part of the team's maturation. You have to go through some adversity to truly mature. Today's situation could easily have gotten out of hand, 100%. But I'm very pleased with the reaction the team showed, and I think that will help us greatly in our future development. That resilience is there; the lads have felt it, and I've witnessed it firsthand. So looking ahead is encouraging, even if today was just a point.

Hello Michael. When Mainoo was substituted, there seemed to be some booing from the away fans. Did you hear that? Do you understand that emotion?

Yes, there are always various reactions when you make a substitution. Honestly, I thought Mainoo played very well, and the substitution at that time was simply because we were trying to break the deadlock and make some changes. Mainoo completely understands that. He's completely fine; I spoke to him after the match, and he's in good spirits. He's only thinking about the team and what's best for the team—that's what football is about.

I understand that when you're losing and trying to turn things around, emotions can run high, and that's true for the fans as well. They have every right to feel that way; they want us to make the right decisions. But I don't see that negatively or feel offended in any way. I think we just need to try to do the right things to get back into the match. I must say, our fans today were fantastic, supporting the lads from start to finish, fighting with the players. We at least gave them something back at the end, and I believe we'll do even better in the future.

Michael, do you understand why disappointment is spreading among the fans? Before the season started, after qualifying for the Champions League last season, everyone was very excited, and you said pre-season went well. But these difficult weeks you're talking about—after going through this period with just five points from five games and elimination from the League Cup—do you understand that people had high expectations for this season, and the current situation is unexpected?

Honestly, the season is still long. The season is long, and there will always be difficult spells throughout; that's part of the journey. This isn't a sprint; it's a long-distance race. Of course, I'm not trying to downplay it; we want more points, so I'm not saying everything is fine.

But I understand the disappointment, I certainly do, because we want to play better and achieve more. However, I believe there is absolutely no despondency or loss of spirits at the club and in our team. The players didn't show any discouragement on the pitch today, and certainly, this spirit will sustain us throughout the season.

Michael, Sesko was absent today. Do you have any updates? Is it still a shin problem? Looking back, from your perspective, are there any concerns or questions about whether you should have signed a striker in the summer?

No, I don't think we should sign someone for every position just because of an injury or some areas struggling. We're currently unsure about Ben's status; he felt pain after the previous match. We're currently assessing him, and he's definitely not ready to play today, so at this stage, I really don't have any additional information to share. We'll have to wait and see how things develop.

Is it the same old shin injury as before?

Yes, he's got a shin issue.

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