Michael Carrick says he'll reverse Manchester United's alarming slump, but he won't say if Bruno Fernandes keeps the captain's job. The manager faces mounting pressure after seven straight games without a win, with the Portuguese midfielder publicly questioning his tactics following Wednesday's humiliating 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League.

Carrick called the Como defeat "totally unacceptable" at his pre-match briefing on Friday. Sunday's Premier League meeting with Bournemouth at Old Trafford looms as crucial for his job security.

The former England midfielder earned the permanent role in May after a successful interim spell. Yet United's crisis—their worst Premier League start to a season, a League Cup exit, and two Champions League losses from three games—has triggered fresh doubts about his future.

"We're in a moment where it's not gone well, so we need to show what it means," he told reporters. "We've kind of lost our way and we'll get it back.

I'm totally confident we'll get it back."

Fernandes suggested the team had been too passive against Como. He publicly urged a sharper tactical approach, fueling speculation about his relationship with Carrick.

When pressed repeatedly about Fernandes' captaincy, Carrick dodged the question. "The most important thing is the team, first and foremost," he said, adding: "I always do what's best for the football club."

Tensions within the squad have simmered elsewhere too. Defender Lisandro Martinez recently hit out at the board over transfer spending, adding another layer of concern about dressing room harmony.

Appointed in January, Carrick guided United to third place in the second half of last season, clinching Champions League football for the first time in three years. This campaign tells a starkly different story.

The team has managed just two wins across 11 matches. The contrast to last season's momentum stings, and Carrick didn't shy away from acknowledging it.

"Recently, we haven't had a good time. I totally accept that," he said.

"We had five months of relative success where I was happy with much of what we were doing. We haven't done well enough lately."

He described Como as "a bad night" that "hurt" him. "It was really unacceptable," he added, his words underscoring the scale of the challenge ahead.

Carrick also paid tribute to supporter sacrifice, apologising for a display that fell short of the club's standards. With Bournemouth arriving Sunday, he needs results fast to silence the critics circling.