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 retained the 45-year-old after their 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October, intending to review his position during November’s international break. Multiple sources have told BBC Sport that this process remains in place.
However, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are increasingly expected to recommend Carrick’s dismissal to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family.
Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa left United 18th in the table and confirmed their worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years. They have won only three of their 15 matches in all competitions and one of their past 10 Premier League games.
United are one point above bottom club Crystal Palace, while only Crystal Palace and Ipswich have conceded more than the 19 goals they have allowed in the league this season.
The club considered dismissing Carrick after the Bournemouth defeat but decided he and his players deserved an opportunity to reverse their fortunes. The two-week international break was regarded as the most suitable point for a full assessment.
The Villa draw was Carrick’s third game since being given additional time. His record across those matches was one win, one draw and one defeat, with United showing resilience to recover from two-goal deficits on three occasions but also continuing to concede heavily.
Potential replacements considered
BBC Sport reported in October that United had made enquiries about former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.
Former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is understood to be interested in the job, 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 thought to include clauses allowing him to leave for certain high-profile positions. The US are due to face Haiti in a two-legged Concacaf Nations League play-off on 14 and 18 November.
Injury problems and tactical concerns
Carrick’s difficulties became apparent before the season-opening match at Hull. Benjamin Sesko was still returning from the shin problem that had ended his previous campaign, while Amad Diallo then suffered an ankle injury that ruled him out for seven weeks.
With his preferred striking alternative unavailable, Carrick used Bryan Mbeumo on the right and turned to Matheus Cunha, whose tendency to drop deep brought him into the areas occupied by captain Bruno Fernandes. United struggled against Hull’s physical approach and appeared unprepared for the challenge of the club’s long-awaited Premier League return.
Former Norway and Middlesbrough striker Jan Aage Fjortoft later said on Nordic broadcaster Viaplay that United had lacked passion. Carrick dismissed that as “ridiculous”, telling the media: “It’s one game.”
United then fell behind against another promoted side, Ipswich, before a mistake by Marcelino Nunez allowed Cunha to set up Fernandes for an equaliser. Fernandes, who had recently been named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26, completed a hat-trick in a 5-2 win but has scored only once in the league since, a penalty against Aston Villa.
At Everton, United led twice, with Sesko scoring two minutes from full-time after coming off the bench. Ainsley Maitland-Niles equalised deep into stoppage time. When asked about his confidence in the team’s response to their poor start, Carrick replied: “It’s not been that bad.”
United’s fitness was subsequently questioned repeatedly. They struggled against a Manchester City side reduced to 10 men in the first half, although City benefited from an Erling Haaland goal referees’ chief Howard Webb later admitted should not have counted. Carrick’s complaint was justified, but his team’s performance remained poor.
After going 2-0 ahead inside 10 minutes against Brighton in the EFL Cup, United were outplayed and lost after conceding twice in four second-half minutes. Their coaching staff, praised months earlier, could not halt the decline.
Cunha’s injury-time equaliser against bottom club Fulham was described by Carrick as something to build on, but United conceded in added time to draw with an out-of-form, 10-man Tottenham immediately after the international break.
Lisandro Martinez scored an own goal against Fulham and was at fault for Tottenham’s equaliser. Following United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, the Argentina defender criticised the club’s summer recruitment and blamed “the technical director” Wilcox.
By then, Sesko and Luke Shaw were injured, while Marcus Rashford had not played since. Carrick had begun using five different players at left-back.
After conceding in the opening minute against Atletico, United allowed Como to score inside the first two minutes of a 4-1 Champions League defeat. Fernandes then criticised Carrick’s tactics. He was dropped for the Bournemouth match but returned as captain against Chelsea, with United losing both games.
