Xabi Alonso has “great sympathy” for Michael Carrick, but has insisted on the situation around the low pressure Manchester United manager will not affect Chelseaapproaching their Premier League game with the Red Devils on Saturday.
Carrick is under heavy scrutiny after a dismal start to his first season as United manager following a successful interim spell last term.
United have picked up just seven points from their opening eight Premier League games, leaving them 16th and just one point above the relegation zone. They are out of the EFL Cup and have lost two of their first three Champions League games.
However, Carrick has been given the chance to turn his fortunes around despite talks United have already held about potential successors.
The home fans at Old Trafford showed their support for Carrick after the 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth last Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes was benched for that game after questioning Carrick’s tactics in their 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como, and supporters chanted Carrick’s name as he walked down the tunnel, before making his feelings clear by immediately booing the players.
Fernandes and Carrick have since held clear talks as United aim to get things back on track, although a trip to Stamford Bridge represents another tough test.
Chelsea are in a much healthier position under Alonso, fifth on 13 points, but will be looking to rediscover the feeling of winning after a 2-0 loss to Tottenham to exit the EFL Cup with a penalty shoot-out loss to Liverpool.
And Alonso is not focusing on the United drama as he looks to lead his side to a comeback victory.
“I have great respect, I have great sympathy for Michael as a coach,” Alonso said in a pre-match press conference.
“I know him because we’ve played against each other. We played a legends game recently and talked a little bit. He’s a good guy and someone you want to be around. Other than that, it’s not for me to comment.”
Asked if United’s problems alter Chelsea’s attitude to the game, he said: “For me, that doesn’t change. We have to prepare in the same way.
“We can only control what we can control. We know it’s a good team, no matter the table. They have a good squad, a good player, a good manager.
“We’re back in Premier League mode and that for me is the main competition for us, this year and almost every year.
“He’s a big one. We haven’t had much time to prepare but it’s very important after the last game at home that we’ve had to keep winning games and have that feeling of winning.
“As soon as we left Liverpool, we were thinking about United. I saw a better version of us on Wednesday than on Saturday, although the result wasn’t what we wanted either. This is a trip where we will have difficult moments and we have to learn from them.”
