Ahead of Man United's away match against Fulham in the Premier League this weekend, Man United manager Michael Carrick spoke to the club's official media.

Michael, it's been a tough week. How have you and your coaching staff managed to stay calm and focused on the task ahead with Fulham away this weekend?

Yes, we certainly have. In terms of results alone, it has certainly not been an ideal week, but these situations are inevitable. You always encounter such moments, and I think when you are trying to build something, there are always times when things don't go exactly as expected. I know every successful team goes through these periods on their journey; they all experience a week or two that isn't perfect. We are currently in such a short low period. In a way, I have been waiting for this moment. We've had a really good run since January, but there will always come a stage where problems emerge, and we will use this to get to know each other better – the players, the whole collective, and the entire squad. We will definitely come out of this stronger. So, yes, as I said, I have been waiting for this moment, and now that it's here, we need to step up and perform better.

One pleasing aspect from Wednesday's game was seeing Shea Lacey score in his first competitive start, which was really great. A significant moment for him.

It was truly fantastic. For Shea, his family, and everyone at the academy – everyone connected to the academy. Witnessing Shea's development firsthand and then seeing him start at Old Trafford and showcase what he does best was incredibly rewarding. I've seen him execute that move countless times on the training pitch; it's his signature – cutting inside onto his left foot and curling it in. I am genuinely delighted for him. Of course, the way the game unfolded and the final result somewhat dampened that joy. But once the dust settles and he can reflect calmly, I believe he can be incredibly proud of himself, as it was a significant moment for him.

There are academy matches tonight and tomorrow morning. How much inspiration do moments like these provide for our young players?

Exactly, that's it. Such moments keep appearing, and as everyone knows, there are countless such stories throughout the history of this club. This is the beauty of football, and it's why so many people at the academy work so hard – it's the cornerstone of this club. Shea had his moment – his current highlight – and now it's about who can seize the next opportunity, because we are always anticipating the emergence of the next star.

Turning to this weekend's match against Fulham, you will be facing Álvaro Arbeloa. You played against him during his time at Liverpool; do you have many memories of him?

Yes, I obviously played against him, but aside from those big, crucial matches, I don't have any particularly specific memories. He gained coaching experience at Real Madrid and has now joined Fulham. Fulham played exceptionally well in their last game, coincidentally against Liverpool, so we're preparing for another tough away match.

It will indeed be a tough match; that away ground is not easy. However, our head-to-head record is quite good. What are your expectations for his team?

They have some very good players, especially a few extremely dangerous attacking players. I think they play a very attractive brand of football and are very well-organized, with a compact formation that doesn't leave much space for opponents and rarely gives away chances. They are an excellent team overall, and they should have more points than they currently do.

What's the current situation with the traveling squad?

Good, our squad is in good shape. Everyone is re-energized, and almost everyone is fit after playing over the past week or so. We are working to integrate Carlos into the team. He's participated in some training this week, and we hope to have Luke back in the squad this week as well. We are looking forward to a high-quality match this weekend.

Yes, we saw some great clips of Carlos training on MUTV and the official app, and he looks in superb condition. How determined is he to get involved and show his quality at this club?

Yes, he's absolutely desperate to get on the pitch. He's full of energy and drive. It's often not easy when you arrive at a new club and can't fully train with the team due to your physical condition. But I must say, he's handled it incredibly well. He has a fantastic personality, is always enthusiastic, and has worked tirelessly to return as quickly as possible. So, it's really great to have him back.

Finally, how important is it to see the team respond positively this weekend and head into the upcoming international break with a positive result?

Yes, of course, we definitely want a positive result to lay a good foundation for the next phase. We haven't won as many games as we would have liked recently, but it's a long season, and we want to regain that strong momentum and move in the right direction. The next opportunity is on Sunday, after which most of the players will depart for international duty for a few weeks. Nevertheless, a good result on Sunday would certainly be fantastic.

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