Ahead of Manchester United's away fixture against Fulham in the fifth round of the Premier League, manager Michael Carrick spoke to the official club media.

Michael, it's been a difficult week. How have you and your coaching staff managed to stay calm and focused on the upcoming away match against Fulham this weekend?

We have. In terms of results alone, it's certainly been a disappointing week, but that happens. There are always moments like this, and I think when you're trying to build something, there will always be times when things don't go quite to plan. I believe every team — I don't just think it, I know — every successful team goes through these periods on the path to success. They all experience one or two less-than-ideal weeks. We're in one of those small dips right now. In a way, I've been waiting for this moment. We had a very good run since January, but there's always a point where adversity appears, and we get to know each other better — the players and the whole group and team. We'll definitely come out of this stronger. So in a sense — yes, as I've said, I've been waiting for this moment, and now it's here, and we need to put in the effort and play better.

A bright spot on Wednesday was Shea Lacey's goal in his first official match — that was really special. A great moment for him.

It was absolutely fantastic. For Shea, his family, everyone in the Academy, and everyone involved with the Academy. Seeing Shea's journey, seeing him make his debut at Old Trafford and showcase what he does best was very special. I've seen him perform this move countless times on the training ground; it's his signature trick — cutting inside, onto his left foot, and then striking it. I'm genuinely delighted for him. Of course, the way the game unfolded, how it finished, and the final result dampened that joy somewhat. But once the dust settles and he's able to look back, I think he'll be incredibly proud of himself, because it was a significant moment for him.

Tonight and tomorrow morning there are youth team matches. How much can moments like these inspire our young players?

Exactly. These moments keep coming around, and as everyone knows, the history of this club is full of countless such stories. That's the beauty of football and what makes it so great, and that's why so many people in the Academy work so hard — it's the foundation of this club. Shea had his moment — or rather, his time in the spotlight — and now it's about who will be able to seize the next opportunity, because we're always looking for the next rising star to emerge.

Turning to this weekend's match against Fulham, you'll be facing Álvaro Arbeloa. You played against him during your playing days when he was at Liverpool — do you have many memories of him?

Yes, I obviously played against him, but outside of those big, decisive matches, there aren't many particular memories. Obviously, he gained coaching experience at Real Madrid last season, and then came here. I have to say, Fulham played particularly well in their last match, and coincidentally, their opponent was Liverpool, so we're preparing for another challenging away game.

This will certainly be a difficult match, a tough away fixture. However, our head-to-head record has been good — what are your expectations for his team?

Yes, they have some very, very good players, particularly several dangerous attacking players. I think they play very attractive football on the pitch, and they're very well organized, with a compact structure that doesn't leave much space for opponents and rarely gives them chances. So I have to say, they're overall a very good team, and they probably should have more points than they currently do.

What's the current situation with the away squad?

Well, our squad situation is good. Everyone has had rest, and nearly everyone has had playing time and is in good form over the last week or so. We're working on integrating Carlos — "returning" isn't quite the right word; it's more about integrating him into the team. He's been involved in some training sessions this week, and we hope Luke will also be back in the squad this week. We're looking forward to a high-quality match this weekend.

Yes, we've seen great footage of Carlos on training on Manchester United TV and the official app, and he looks in excellent form. How determined is he to get on the pitch and show what he's capable of at this club?

Yes, he's very eager to get out there. He's full of energy and drive. I think when you move to a new club and can't train properly with the whole team because of your physical condition, it's often not easy. But I have to say, he's handled it incredibly well. He has a fantastic character — he's always enthusiastic, and he's worked tirelessly to get back as quickly as possible. So it's great to have him back.

Finally, how important is it to see a positive reaction from the team this weekend and go into the upcoming international break on the back of a good result?

Yes, of course, we definitely want to get a positive result to build good momentum for the next phase. As you know, we haven't won as many games recently as we'd have liked, but the season is long, and we want to regain that strong momentum and move in the right direction. The next opportunity comes on Sunday, and after that, nearly all the lads — or most of the players — will head off to their respective national team camps for a couple of weeks. But regardless, a good result on Sunday would certainly be fantastic.

Переведено ИИ.

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