Michael Carrick is a man under pressure at Manchester United but is regularly talking to his former boss Sir Alex Ferguson and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Michael Carrick admits he's in regular contact with Manchester United icon Sir Alex Ferguson as well as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who is one of the many managers to follow the Scot.

It was Ferguson who signed Carrick back in 2006 and the now manager had a spell as Solskjaer's No 2 when the Norwegian was in charge at Old Trafford. The pair never won a trophy together before Solskjaer was shown the door.

Carrick is in dialogue with his former boss as well as Solskjaer as he tries to navigate the current challenges on the red side of Manchester. The 45-year-old has presided over two wins in 11 to begin the season, making him a man under pressure.

Carrick beat Solskjaer to the job of head coach in January when the club were, initially, looking for an interim. But the pair remain in talks with Ferguson also at the end of the phone.

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He said: "I speak to both of them quite regularly, to be honest. There's nothing in particular from that. I'm close to both of them and we do have regular conversations. It's nothing different this week."

Solskjaer is among the men who have been unable to bring the success of yesteryear back to United. He came after the likes of Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, and since his dismissal in late 2021 Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim have had underwhelming stints.

Carrick needs to improve results of face the prospect of losing his job and in a rallying cry on Friday he referenced Ferguson during an emotional speech.

Pressed on why he spoke for five minutes before his weekly press conference on Friday he replied: "Because I understand the situation, and I understand my position and I know what this football club means to so, so many people.

"The history doesn't give you the right to keep winning. Teams that win earn the right to win. So it's important that we draw inspiration from history and the past of what's gone on. But our responsibility is to carry that forward, and it's so important to me that we do that."

United host Bournemouth on Sunday at Old Trafford - the Cherries are unbeaten in their last three visits to the Red Devils, scoring ten goals in that time.