Carrick’s Boro have dropped to ninth in the Championship table after a run of four league defeats in five games and are now closer in points to bottom club Luton than they are fourth-placed Sunderland.
He admits the current run has been “challenging” but insists he relishes the pressure he finds himself under and is adamant Boro – who remain only three points off the top six with a game in hand – can get back on track, starting at home to Watford tomorrow.
“I think we’re definitely disappointed with what’s happened lately and the amount of points we’ve gathered, or haven’t gathered,” he said.
“There’s definite disappointment but we can’t let that affect us going into the next game. Of course, it’s easier when you’re winning games and you roll into the next game. Certainly that makes it easier.
“But that doesn’t change how we approach the next game. We have to be positive, the boys have accepted things, are ready to move on and are as disappointed as anyone. It’s up to us to find a way and Saturday is the perfect opportunity to do that.
“There’s a bit to go in the story yet, it’s not over yet. There’s a good spell of the season to go and we know how that can change quite quickly. We’ve seen how teams go on runs, we’ve done that.
“This is not the end of the story. We need to make it a better ending but this is not the end at this stage.”
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On the back of just two wins in their last 10 games, Carrick was asked whether he’s feeling the pressure.
“The pressure comes from me myself,” he said.
“I want to do well and be the best I possibly can be. I feel the responsibility of wanting to lead the team through a difficult period. The easy times are when you’re winning. It’s a bit more challenging when you’ve got to find ways but that’s when you find out most about yourself, find out what the players are all about and that’s where we’re at now.
“I have full trust in the players. We’re fighting to achieve something and, yeah, that brings an element of expectation and pressure with that. That should be there when you’re trying to achieve something.
“That’s what makes it worthwhile if you do achieve it. We’ve got to embrace the challenge. We know where we’re at, we know the situation and what’s at stake and we’ve got to go and give it everything we’ve got.
“The pressure is just there naturally because we’re here to win games and be successful. Whether that’s game to game, week to week or where we want to be at the end of the season, there is always pressure to deliver. We know the situation we’re in. You put yourself in the position in the game because you love it, because you want to be tested and you enjoy finding ways to win games. When you do it’s a terrific feeling and we want to get back to feeling more of that.”
Despite Boro’s recent struggle, Carrick insists his side can take heart from the challenges they’ve overcome in the past two seasons.
“Listen, we’ve been nearer the bottom of the league at times in my time here – when I first took over and at certain points last season,” he said.
“It certainly wasn’t as positive as it is now in terms of league position. But equally, I understand the results and how it’s been.
“I think when you’re winning it’s nice and you enjoy that feeling. That’s why we’re in the game, ultimately.
“There’s an element, from my point of view in times like this though, where you’ve got to find the answers and that’s the challenge, you have to dig deep and search for new things, search for tweaks and ways to help the players through it.
“There’s a challenge in all of that that drives me on and makes me even more motivated to get more out of the situation.
“The tougher the times the more you have to step up and face it. There’s no denying that recently has been challenging in certain ways. But we can come out of that. This doesn’t have to be forever. We can find a way out of it and change things quite quickly.”
