Manchester United have decided to keep Michael Carrick in charge for Saturday’s visit to Chelsea, despite growing pressure following Sunday’s 3-1 defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Carrick’s position had appeared increasingly uncertain after a second damaging performance in succession, but the club have given him and his players the opportunity to improve their situation. No deadline has been set for a review of his future.
United are 16th in the table and face a crucial Champions League game against Roma three days after the Chelsea match, followed by a Premier League meeting with in-form Aston Villa before a two-week international break.
That period would provide an obvious point at which to reassess the manager’s position, although Manchester United have not said that a decision will be made then.
Carrick stayed behind to sign shirts and pose for photographs with supporters after Sunday’s defeat, having been the last person to leave the stadium. The reception for the former United midfielder, who remains popular with fans, contrasted with the hostility directed towards the current squad.
Asked whether he expected to be in charge at Stamford Bridge, Carrick said: “I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. I’m carrying on as normal.”
The 45-year-old had been under pressure since United’s 4-1 defeat by Como on 21 October, described by United We Stand fanzine editor Andy Mitten as “an affront to the name of Manchester United”.
Captain Bruno Fernandes subsequently questioned Carrick’s tactics and his coaches’ failure to identify problems during matches. A week earlier, Lisandro Martinez had called for greater investment in the squad and said he expected “more from our technical director”, Jason Wilcox.
United had initially resisted dismissing Carrick after the Como defeat, fearing it would appear reactionary. But the Bournemouth performance was arguably worse. Fernandes was left on the bench and later liked an Instagram post carrying the message: “Never push a loyal person to the point where they no longer care”.
No decision was reached on Monday. While the players who started against Bournemouth were given the day off, Fernandes attended Carrington for pre-planned treatment and Carrick watched a closed-door Under-21s match. Chief executive Omar Berrada and Wilcox were also there to discuss the club’s next steps, with sources saying minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family would have been involved.
Carrick arrived at Carrington at 07:30 GMT on Tuesday and later signed autographs with Fernandes and other players for invited supporters. Four hours afterwards, United confirmed he would take charge at Stamford Bridge. He will speak to the media on Thursday.
Players also under scrutiny
Senior figures believe the squad is capable of qualifying for the Champions League and that the players are underperforming. One player told BBC Sport: “The feeling is that we all want to put it right. Players, staff, everyone.”
It is unclear whether Fernandes is included in that assessment, or whether there have been discussions between him and Carrick.
One former senior United official said: “Ordinarily, Michael would have gone. The last two performances were unacceptable, and team discipline is broken. Not doing it is fascinating and risky.”
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann were among the managers considered. Appointing Howe would involve a multi-million-pound compensation payment to Newcastle. Antonio Conte is willing to discuss the role, although there has been no direct contact. Kieran McKenna is also available, while Unai Emery has support within United, despite doubts they could persuade him to leave Aston Villa.
Wilcox’s position is also being questioned. He did not decide the summer transfer budget, while Ratcliffe has provided significant transfer funding since taking charge of football affairs in early 2024 and invested £300m of his own money in the club.
Questions remain over why United prioritised midfield recruitment rather than left-back and central striker. Injuries to Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko have intensified those concerns. Another senior figure believes both Wilcox and Berrada could be vulnerable if Ratcliffe chooses a wider overhaul.
A third managerial change in as many seasons could also put Wilcox’s job at risk. For now, however, Carrick remains focused on Chelsea.
