After an impressive third-place finish last season, United invested heavily in their midfield this summer, splashing £155million on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba.
But the club’s failure to invest further to address a lack of depth at left-back and striker has come under scrutiny, particularly after a sluggish start to the season, with only two wins from their first nine matches in all competitions.
That scrutiny came to a head after United’s midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid, when United centre-back Martinez launched into a furious tirade at Director of Football Jason Wilcox for failing to strengthen the squad.
Martinez has since apologised and been fined for the outburst, but Carrick has hinted that the club will heed the Argentine’s advice and look to bring in fresh legs when the transfer market reopens.
‘When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it,’ Carrick told Sky Sports
‘Whatever that looks like at this stage, we don’t quite know. But without doubt, there’s opportunity because the transfer window is open.
Lisandro Martinez’s comments have put United’s transfer policy under the spotlight (Picture: PA)
‘So we’ll definitely be looking at that and trying to come out stronger in whatever way that looks like.’
In his remarkable post-match interview, Martinez also suggested that the club’s hierarchy had a lack of ambition, but Carrick pushed back against that suggestion.
‘We’re striving to get back to the top,’ he added. ‘We’ve been there before, repeatedly.
‘We’ve had a bit of a spell when we haven’t quite been there. For all of us, we’re striving to get to the top and we’re building. We’re acknowledging that we’re building and we’re coming from behind.
United are winless in five games in all competitions (Picture: Reuters)
‘That’s pretty obvious, it’s factual. We’re all pushing to get there. No one more so than me.
‘I’m desperate to get this club to where we feel we belong. We’ve got to earn that and that comes from a lot of different things. We’re all pushing in the same direction to try and achieve that.’
United face a stern test against Leeds United at Elland Road on Sunday, but Carrick insisted he is not fearful for his job should results not turn around in the coming weeks.
‘It’s not something that I think about,’ he added.
‘I’m here to win football matches, but winning football matches short term with an eye on developing the club and pushing the club to be great.
‘Again, in terms of results and winning things, it’s a great club anyway, but on the pitch, we need to be great.
‘We haven’t quite hit that level in recent times, and I understand that. But I don’t think about myself in my own situation, about how much time or what it looks like for me. There’s no individual that’s more important than this football club.’
