Manchester United are increasingly expected to sack head coach Michael Carrick, although the club’s board has not yet made a final decision on his future.
United chose to keep Carrick after their 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October, with the intention of reviewing his position during November’s international break. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are likely to recommend to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family that Carrick should be dismissed.
The 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday left United 18th in the table and gave them their worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years. They have won only one of their 10 Premier League matches and have conceded 19 goals, with only Crystal Palace and Ipswich allowing more.
United are one point above bottom club Crystal Palace. They have won three of their 15 matches in all competitions this season.
BBC Sport reported in October that the club had made enquiries about former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is known to be interested in the position, while multiple sources say former Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino would be open to moving to Old Trafford.
Pochettino extended his contract as USA coach in August, but the agreement is understood to include clauses allowing him to leave for certain high-profile jobs. The USA face Haiti in a two-legged Concacaf Nations League play-off on 14 and 18 November.
Sunday’s match was Carrick’s third since United decided to give the 45-year-old more time. His record during that period – one win, one draw and one defeat – has reflected the wider problems of his reign: United have conceded heavily but have twice come from two goals behind.
The board considered dismissing Carrick after the Bournemouth defeat but felt he and his players deserved an opportunity to change the club’s fortunes. The November break was also viewed as the most appropriate point to assess the campaign. Instead, United’s position has deteriorated.
Carrick’s difficult season began before the opening match at Hull. Benjamin Sesko was still returning from the shin problem that had ended the previous campaign early when Amad Diallo suffered an ankle injury which ruled him out for seven weeks. Bryan Mbeumo was therefore used on the right, while Matheus Cunha’s tendency to drop deep occupied spaces also used by captain Bruno Fernandes.
United were physically overpowered by Hull and later drew criticism from former Norway and Middlesbrough striker Jan Aage Fjortoft, who said they lacked passion while working for Nordic broadcaster Viaplay. Carrick dismissed the claim as “ridiculous”, adding: “It’s one game.”
United then needed a mistake from Marcelino Nunez to draw level at Ipswich before Fernandes completed a hat-trick in a 5-2 win. The Portugal international, named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26, has scored only once in the league since – a penalty against Aston Villa.
After twice leading at Everton, United conceded a late equaliser to Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Carrick responded to questions about his side’s start by saying: “It’s not been that bad.” Subsequent defeats by Manchester City and Brighton in the EFL Cup increased the pressure. United struggled against 10-man Manchester City, while Howard Webb later admitted Erling Haaland’s goal for their rivals should not have counted. Brighton overturned a 2-0 deficit by scoring twice in four second-half minutes.
A late equaliser against bottom club Fulham was followed by another stoppage-time concession against an out-of-form, 10-man Tottenham. Lisandro Martinez was blamed for Spurs’ goal after scoring an own goal against Fulham, then criticised United’s recruitment and “the technical director” Wilcox following a 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid.
Injuries to Sesko and Luke Shaw, Marcus Rashford’s continued absence and a succession of five different left-backs added to the instability. United then lost 4-1 to Como after conceding inside two minutes, with Fernandes questioning Carrick’s tactics. He was dropped for Bournemouth before returning as captain against Chelsea; United lost both matches.
Carrick now appears likely to pay the price for United’s slide to 18th.
