Manchester United will face Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the match, Michael Carrick, Manchester United manager, held a press conference. Below is a question-and-answer section from Michael Carrick's press conference.

Will Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo miss the match against Atlético Madrid?

They haven't travelled with the squad. Both picked up injuries in the game last weekend and won't be available.

Have Lisandro Martínez and Matthijs de Ligt travelled with the squad?

We're not short of personnel. For a player like Lisandro, it's good for him to experience this type of competition. He's been with the club for a while and has worked hard to get to this point.

What's the latest on Sandro Tonali?

We're still awaiting further assessment. We need to understand the full situation, so there's no return-to-play timeline at the moment.

What happened in the Tottenham match?

We need to start strong tomorrow. They're a very good team, and we know what we'll be up against. We're prepared. The team's response in the second half against Tottenham gives me confidence.

Do you feel under pressure?

It depends on how you define pressure. We know what we want and what we demand of ourselves, and that comes from within. I know what's being said externally, but I don't feel pressured by it. I want to win. I want success. There's nothing negative in the squad. We're facing this challenge head-on.

There will always be difficult moments, and if you can't face difficulties and overcome them, you won't succeed. The difference between winning and losing is often very small. We made a poor start a few days ago, and the goals we conceded late in recent matches could have been avoided. But the margin is often very fine.

Do you think Bruno Fernandes is in poor form at the start of the season?

He can certainly return to performing as he did last season. He has an impressive track record.

Is Bruno Fernandes fully recovered?

There's been talk about his limited playing time with Portugal, which is normal. It's not ideal, but it's manageable. Bruno is ready to play and it's fundamentally fine. It's not a major issue, and his physical condition is very good right now.

Is Bruno Fernandes guaranteed his starting spot?

No one is guaranteed a starting position. Every player must meet the standards we've set.

What kind of competition do you expect tomorrow?

The preseason is the preseason (this is the last time Manchester United will face Atlético Madrid). Both teams' squads are different now, and the atmosphere of the match will be different too. We need to be ready for that atmosphere.

Are you looking forward to facing Diego Simeone?

I have great respect for Diego Simeone as a coach. Building a team takes time, and you can see from his tenure how he's made a difference with this squad. They're very dangerous, and this will be an excellent test for us.

Any other thoughts on Diego Simeone?

We believe Atlético Madrid are as strong as any team in Europe, and we regard them as one of the elite sides.

Are you surprised the team is facing problems this soon?

We expected better performances. I know there will always be difficult moments—that's part of the process. It's a journey, and Atlético Madrid have also had times when their plans haven't worked out. They've been successful, but things haven't always been smooth. I understand that outsiders might view this as a disaster, but we don't see it that way. You have to be able to deal with difficulties.

The last three goals we conceded could all have been prevented, and that might be the difference between success and failure. I like these moments where we have to weather the storm. The fans are with us, and we need to deliver for them. We'll definitely fight back.

Should Manchester United strengthen at left-back and centre-forward in the summer?

The transfer market has its own process, and injuries can suddenly change the situation in different positions. We need to build the squad, and we have players in the team who can step up. We'll find a way.

Will Balleba get a starting opportunity?

We're not surprised by what Carlos can bring to the team. We have excellent options in midfield. Kobbie hasn't travelled, but we have other options to rotate. Whether Carlos gets a starting spot is something to consider, but his performances over the past few days have been very satisfactory and represent a strong start. He'll definitely help the team. Carlos can bring a different balance to our midfield, both defensively and offensively, which will change the dynamic of the team.

Why do you have such confidence in the players?

Because they want to win. We're here to be tested, and if you're not willing to give everything and pull out your full potential, this isn't the place for you—I see this in closed training sessions and in the dressing room. This week is critical. We have two tough matches, but we're looking forward to these games. We'll give it our all.

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