Michael Carrick has warned that it would be “bang out of order” for Manchester United to underestimate Fulham, especially after their recent impressive victories against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Since stepping in as interim manager, Carrick has celebrated back-to-back wins and is aiming for a third as Fulham comes to visit Old Trafford on Sunday.
Ahead of the match against Marco Silva’s team, the former United midfielder shared his thoughts: “I believe the players are in a good frame of mind. It’s going to be a tough challenge, as Marco has transformed Fulham into a strong side.”
“Being at home doesn’t guarantee anything; underestimating Fulham would be unacceptable.”
On the injury front, Carrick welcomed the return of Joshua Zirkzee, who has resumed training after missing the last two matches due to injury.
However, Matthijs de Ligt remains unavailable, and Patrick Dorgu will also miss out after suffering a hamstring injury during the 3-2 win at the Emirates.
“Unfortunately, Pat will be sidelined for some time,” Carrick stated. “It’s disappointing, especially as he has performed so well in recent weeks.
“Initially, we weren’t sure if it was cramp or something more serious, but it seems to be the latter. We’ll have to wait a few weeks to determine the exact timeline.”
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Dorgu’s absence is a setback for Carrick, especially after the Danish international scored against both City and Arsenal.
With three days left in the transfer window, United has the opportunity to strengthen their squad. Carrick suggested that they are still exploring options ahead of Monday’s deadline.
“We’re just assessing the situation,” he commented.
“It’s always possible to make changes. Many factors can emerge, some of which are within our control, and others are not. I maintain a calm demeanor, and our recent performances have highlighted what we can achieve as a team.
“We’ll see what unfolds in the coming days.”