Man Utd had a marginally more positive week last week but it won't be enough to keep Michael Carrick in a job unless more improvements follow.

Michael Carrick has labelled the last few days at Manchester United a "fresh start", but the reality is his Old Trafford reign remains on the precipice, and no amount of positivity can undo what has been a dismal start to the season so far.

Carrick suggested a corner had been turned after seeing his side draw 1-1 with Leeds at Elland Road, but the fact remains United have won just two of their first 10 games in all competitions this season. If that run continues for much longer, Carrick will be out of a job.

The 45-year-old was pleased with his players' commitment and intensity against Leeds, and they stood up well to a physical test. There was no shirking the challenge and no sense that they looked defeated as a team.

But the traits they have been praised for this week are the bare minimum Carrick should be accepting and if the ship has been steadied, it is time to start adding some quality flourishes to a style of football that has been a tough watch recently.

United were better in Madrid and Leeds last week. They had some measure of control in both games, were a bit tighter defensively and looked to be more up for the fight.

But in the Metropolitano, they created an xG of 0.98 and at Elland Road that figure was 0.92. Those numbers are okay, but United need more in attack if they are to truly put this run behind them.

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"We're not getting too carried away because we haven't won the game, but I think if you keep doing the right things for the right reasons, then you get what you deserve in the end," said Carrick.

"I think that was a bit of a fresh start today, to be honest, with where we're at, accepting it, and doing something about it. It definitely shows that the boys are desperate to do well for each other as much as anything else, and how much they appreciate playing for this football club, because there was a real purpose to the group over the last couple of days, and they took it on the pitch.

"That's a tough game today, I have to say, that's a tough game the way they play, and it can find you out pretty quickly, and the boys stood up to it really well."

Given the way United have been playing and the sense of crisis around the club, those traits aren't a guarantee, and it's fair enough that Carrick is talking about how pleased he is with the togetherness and spirit within his squad.

But he needs more than that to be given the time to turn this around. He needs a more complete performance this week, starting against Como and then certainly delivering against Bournemouth.

The trip to Italy is another testing Champions League assignment and it concludes a run of three tough away games in a row. A return to Old Trafford to face a Bournemouth side with just one Premier League win all season looks a more favourable assignment.

If we're only talking about spirit and togetherness this time next week, then Carrick will be in trouble. Over the next six days, he needs to add a little more quality to that mix to prove this really is the fresh start he wants it to be.