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Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler insists he remains fully focused on his own job and has the utmost respect for Michael Carrick at Manchester United.

A humiliating 4-1 loss away to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday night and the criticism from captain Bruno Fernandes which followed has put further scrutiny on Carrick’s position.

Following the Seagulls’ fine start to the new campaign - including a 3-2 Carabao Cup win over United at Old Trafford - Hurzeler is one of the names touted as a possible replacement for Carrick should the club decide to make another managerial change.

The German coach, though, maintains he is only thinking about how to keep Brighton moving forward into this weekend’s game at Liverpool, with his side held to a goalless draw in the Conference League away to Czech minnows Jablonec on Thursday night.

I don’t think about Manchester United

“I am really focused on my job here,” Hurzeler said at a press conference. “I have no time to think about these rumours because we play every three days.

“Beside that, I have a lot of respect for Michael Carrick, for what he has done with Manchester United at the end of last season.

“He is a great human being, he is a great personality. Every time we meet each other, we have a really good relationship, so therefore I really respect him and there is nothing more to say about that.”

Despite drawing a blank against Jablonec, Brighton head into the weekend’s fixtures as the Premier League’s top scorers with 23 goals.

Hurzeler remains determined to get more out of his squad.

“I am really privileged to be in this situation here, and I always mention that I am part of a journey,” he said.

Not finish at Brighton

“I always emphasise as well that I still have this feeling when I go to bed that we are not finished with our journey, and I am not 100 per cent satisfied and happy with where we are.

“There is still improvements we can do, still a lot of potential to get out of the players, and therefore I really want to work on that together with my players, together with my staff.

“I have great experts around me. I have a great group of players who support me, who give everything for this club and we built this over the last years.

“We had tough periods, we have good periods, but I think to build these kind of relationships, you need time, you need connections and you don’t take these things for granted.”