Michael Carrick will remain in charge of Manchester United for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, according to multiple reports, after the club’s hierarchy decided against sacking him following crisis talks on Monday.
The Athletic revealed that Carrick will stay in the dugout for the visit to Chelsea after talks at Carrington on Monday between chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, with conference calls to co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer and minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. BBC Sport, Sky Sports and the Manchester Evening News have also reported that Carrick will be given the chance to turn the club’s fortunes around, and he took Tuesday’s training session as normal.
The decision comes after a grim run of results. Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth — with goals from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson — left United 16th in the Premier League with seven points from eight games, just one point above the relegation zone. It was a second heavy defeat in four days, following the 4-1 Champions League loss at Como, and stretched United’s winless run to eight matches in all competitions. They have won only twice in 12 games this season.
Carrick himself offered no assurances over his own future after the Bournemouth defeat. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: “It’s a tough situation. What is next? I don’t know. I’ll always do what’s best for this football club. I’ve said it all along, I don’t change that now. I love what I do. I love the responsibility, but we’ll have to wait and see.” He added: “I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. I’m carrying on as normal. I love this place.”
The weekend also exposed the fractures inside the squad. Carrick dropped captain Bruno Fernandes for the Bournemouth game — describing it as a pure football decision — four days after the Portuguese midfielder criticised United’s tactics following the defeat at Como. Lisandro Martinez was also left on the bench. At full time on Sunday, the home fans sang Carrick’s name and applauded him off the pitch, but booed the players and chanted against the club’s ownership and decision-makers.
Sticking with Carrick is a significant call. He has 18 months left on the two-year contract he signed in May, when United appointed him as permanent manager after he had taken over as interim head coach in January following Ruben Amorim’s departure and guided the club to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification. Dismissing him three months into the new season would have been a dramatic U-turn. The names linked with the job underline why the hierarchy hesitated: former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is reportedly the front runner, but Julian Nagelsmann’s appointment is considered unlikely, Antonio Conte’s demands over control have cooled his candidacy, Fabian Hurzeler is contracted to Brighton until 2029, and Unai Emery’s wish for autonomy does not sit well with United’s structure.
For now, the Chelsea fixture is Carrick’s chance to change the story. Tottenham beat Chelsea last Saturday, which offers some encouragement, but another defeat would leave the questions exactly where they were — and the next decision may not be far away.
