Carrick insists Manchester United players remain committed ahead of Roma clash

Michael Carrick has insisted that growing speculation about his position will not affect Manchester United's preparations for their Champions League fixture against Roma, despite the club enduring its worst run of results in 38 years.

United have gone nine matches without a victory and sit just outside the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference, having collected only one win and seven points from their opening nine fixtures.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat away at Chelsea intensified talk that the visit of Roma, in United's fourth Champions League league phase match, could be Carrick's last in charge. The Italian side have made an unbeaten start in Serie A and scored 16 goals across their past four matches, with their only defeat this season coming in a dramatic 4-3 loss to Real Madrid at the Stadio Olimpico on October 14.

Speaking at his pre-match media conference, Carrick said: "(Speculation) has no influence on how we prepare or on the game. We cannot wait for it. That is all I am focused on. What happens after, happens. Whatever direction it goes in."

The United boss also defended his players' commitment following the manner of the defeat at Stamford Bridge, where Lisandro Martinez was sent off and conceded a penalty in quick succession, ending any hope of a comeback. "I have no concerns about (Martinez's) commitment. Things happen in football. Sometimes you make mistakes. The commitment is not an issue," he said.

"The dressing room is in a good place. The commitment of the players to the club, to me, to each other, do not question it at all. We need to play better, we can make better decisions, but the commitment is not a thing at all," Carrick added, before stressing: "A lot of people could do my job when you are winning games. It is about finding solutions, finding answers, staying strong, leading right and getting the best out of the players."

United's only win since August came in a 4-0 success against Sabah at Old Trafford on September 10, but Carrick said a victory over Roma would keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stages alive. "We are looking for the win. There is the bigger picture and it is about getting through to the later stages. We're certainly still in it. We've a great chance of progressing and that has to be the focus from now."

Midfielder Kobbie Mainoo also backed his head coach, describing the current slump as a "bump in the road" that the squad must fight through together. "I feel like our way to repay the manager is to be behind him on and off the pitch and fight as a team," he said.

Mainoo added: "I'm grateful to the boss for putting trust in me as soon as he came in and giving me all the advice that he has, knowing that he's been a player and knows the history of this club and what it takes to win. I take those words to heart and try to apply them every day."