Manchester United’s board is yet to make a final decision on Michael Carrick’s future.
The 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday means United, 18th in the table, have made their worst domestic start in 40 years.
The draw was Carrick’s third match in charge since the board gave the 45-year-old more time to improve the side’s form after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on 25 October.
The board felt Carrick, and the players, had earned the chance to show they could turn the club’s fortunes around, while the hierarchy also knew November’s two-week break would offer a chance to reassess the situation more calmly.
They are determined to do exactly that, knowing the results – one win, one draw and one defeat – and performances United have delivered in the past three games offer a mixed view of Carrick’s tenure.
Conceding eight goals, winning only once and dropping into the relegation zone are obvious negatives. However, it is also felt that fighting back from two goals down three times over the past two games showed that the players remain behind Carrick.
United’s hierarchy explored replacing Carrick after the loss to Bournemouth last month, with ex-Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann in the mix.
Carrick said after the 4-4 draw against Aston Villa that he would not step down, but chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox will influence the decision on whether to keep the former Middlesbrough boss.
United travel to arch-rivals Liverpool on 22 November for their first match after the international break, with Carrick’s side in 18th place in the Premier League.
With just one league win so far this term, United are in their lowest position in 10 matches since the 1986-87 campaign.
Following the Anfield trip, five of United’s next seven league opponents are in the bottom half of the league. This includes the four other sides currently in the bottom five, with meetings against Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, all at Old Trafford.
Whether Carrick keeps his job or not, United will keep struggling unless they stop conceding goals so regularly.
Only Crystal Palace and Ipswich have let in more than United’s 19 league goals.
They have conceded 15 times in their last three matches across all competitions. Their only clean sheet this term came against Azerbaijan title winners Sabah FK in the Champions League.
‘Carrick will be puzzled’
“All the Premier League teams, whether they play home or away against Manchester United, fancy their chances because you can open them up and score goals,” former United assistant boss Rene Meulensteen told BBC Radio Five Live.
“No matter what combination you find it’s just not good enough. I think Michael Carrick will be constantly puzzled as to what back four he can play because there’s no certainty they can keep a clean sheet.”
Full-back Diogo Dalot took the brunt of fan ire at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Huge cheers greeted his number being shown to confirm he was being replaced, which then turned to boos when he reached the dugout.
Substitute Joshua Zirkzee, who suffered similar treatment when he was replaced after half an hour of a home defeat to Newcastle in December 2024, made a point of hugging Dalot as he made his way back to the bench.
Asked if it was time to take Dalot out of the firing line, Carrick urged caution.
“We’ve got to be careful with that,” he said.
“I understand the frustration and I understand the disappointment of the supporters, I get it. We’re all frustrated, we’re all disappointed, and the players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that.
“Diogo gives absolutely everything. He’s played in different positions and played really well at times.
“He gives a penalty away. He knows that. Maybe he can do a little bit better. He made a mistake. But I like what he brings to the team. He cares an awful lot and he’s giving everything.”
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