Michael Carrick showed true colours towards Man Utd star before being sacked

Michael Carrick's final gesture as Manchester United manager was to defend Diogo Dalot as the head coach showed his true colours. Despite being appointed permanently just six months earlier, Carrick's position at Old Trafford had become precarious following heavy defeats against Bournemouth and Como. The Monday after the Bournemouth loss, United's leadership held emergency discussions at Carrington to determine his fate. After extensive deliberation, the verdict was reached to retain Carrick until the November international break.

This afforded the legendary former midfielder an opportunity to turn United's fortunes around. After defeat to Chelsea, a fightback victory over Roma and a dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, United have elected to axe Carrick.

Among his final acts as United manager, Carrick delivered his post-match press conference after the draw against Villa, addressing the jeers and sarcastic cheers that greeted Dalot when he was subbed off.

"We've got to be careful with that, I think," Carrick said. "I understand the frustration, I understand the disappointment of the supporters, so I get it. We're all frustrated, we're all disappointed, and the players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that.

"Diogo, he gives absolutely everything. He's played in different positions, he's played left-back, he's played really well at times.

"He gives a penalty away today. Maybe he can do a little bit better, all right, that's part of it, he's made a mistake, but he cares an awful lot and he's giving everything.

"So I like what he brings to the team, I like what he brings to the group, I like what he brings to the whole environment and the culture that we've got.

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"Picking a team and who plays the next game, that's a whole different decision, but it's a whole different game that we've got to look forward to now."

Carrick was understandably prickly when questioned about his future following the stalemate with Villa and declined to confirm whether he intended to hold discussions with Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada.

When challenged once more during the media briefing, Carrick said: "I'm quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in, and it's got to win games.

"I think there's more than enough [to turn things around]. Goals change games and you've got to deal with it, and it's part of something we have to improve on drastically, but there's more than enough.

"We're just making it too difficult for ourselves at the moment in certain times. It's been a right mixed week or two or three really if you're looking at the events, but I'm pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there.

"Obviously, some of the boys will be flying off around the world and different things, and the group will be split for 10 days or so, but as a normal international week is, we'll have some training, we'll have one or two days off, not too much, but we'll train and we'll get ready for the next game."

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