Carrick backs Martínez's commitment as United's crisis meets Roma test
Michael Carrick says Lisandro Martínez's attitude is not in question despite a red card and a fine, as Manchester United try to end a nine-match winless run against an unbeaten Roma.
Michael Carrick says he has no concerns about Lisandro Martínez's commitment, even after the defender was fined for comments aimed at Manchester United's hierarchy and then sent off in the defeat at Chelsea. The Argentine centre-back is nonetheless expected to keep his place for Roma's visit to Old Trafford in the Champions League on Tuesday, according to the Guardian.
The fixture lands at a low point. United have lost three straight games, a sequence that began with a 4-1 Champions League defeat away at Como, and head into the match on a nine-game run without a win in all competitions. Roma arrive unbeaten in Serie A after 10 matches, with four points from three Champions League games this season.
Martínez's discipline is the real question, not his attitude
Carrick was asked directly whether Martínez's head was in the right place. "Nah, I've got no concerns about commitment at all. Things happen in football, sometimes you make mistakes, sometimes it goes well for you, but commitment is not an issue, for sure," he said, as reported by Football Italia.
That framing matters tactically as much as psychologically. A centre-back's job is built on discipline in duels and positioning in the defensive block, not effort alone. Martínez's red card at Chelsea was reckless rather than a sign of low application, which is why Carrick can separate the two and still trust him as a last line of defence against a Roma side unbeaten domestically.
Why a makeshift back line carries extra risk this week
Fielding Martínez again so soon after a dismissal is a vote of confidence, but it also raises the stakes around United's defensive structure. A side already missing bodies cannot easily absorb another defensive error, and a sending-off forces any team into a reshaped low block to protect the goal while short of numbers, as United found at Chelsea.
Carrick confirmed Luke Shaw will again be unavailable against Roma, with Leny Yoro and others also doubts, leaving the back line further stretched. Patrick Dorgu trained with the squad for the first time since returning from injury but will not be involved. "Yeah, it was his first day with the group, great to have him back, but he won't be involved tomorrow. We'll see how he progresses during the week," Carrick said.
The losing run traces back to the 4-1 defeat in Como, where Bruno Fernandes was pictured reacting after Nico Paz scored the hosts' third goal. Opponents punishing United on the break, rather than through sustained pressure, points to a vulnerability in transition defending that has persisted through the subsequent losses — a pattern Carrick's side cannot afford to repeat against a Roma team capable of springing forward quickly on the counter.
Carrick, for his part, rejects any suggestion that the dressing room has fractured under the weight of results. "The dressing room is in a good place. Perception is a funny thing, you can make things look in different ways. The commitment from the players, to the club and each other, I don't question that at all," he said. Asked whether he feels under pressure, Carrick said, "No, not at all." He added: "You never know what is going to happen in the future, but that doesn’t change the way I feel. I can’t wait for the game tomorrow. You might think I’m crazy with the results we’ve had, but I can’t wait for it."
A different United team, a different kind of test
The one question Carrick fielded about Roma themselves concerned the 7-1 Champions League quarter-final win at Old Trafford nearly two decades ago, a game in which he scored twice. "It's a long time ago, eh? It was a magical night, one of the best nights and atmospheres I've been fortunate enough to witness. The fact that I scored a couple, and that was unusual, gives me great memories," he said.
That result offers no tactical blueprint for Tuesday. This Roma side is unbeaten in Serie A and arrives with a mixed but competitive Champions League record, while United's current issues sit in defensive organisation and transition moments rather than anything a nostalgic scoreline can address. Carrick's task is to stabilise a back line missing several first-choice defenders while trusting a centre-back just one match removed from a red card.