Manchester United have decided to keep Michael Carrick in charge, at least for the Premier League trip to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 31 October, a lunchtime kick-off in the UK. The call came after director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada met at Carrington on 26 October, the day after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth. Carrick took training on 27 October, Sky Sports reported, and has been given at least one more match to turn things around.
A reprieve, not a vote of confidence
According to the Guardian, Wilcox drove the decision to stand by the 45-year-old, which the paper called a surprise given United's dire form. Bongdaplus reported that the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe were also part of the talks, and that the board wants the players, not just the head coach, to carry responsibility for the slump.
The backing has limits. The Guardian said it was in the balance whether Carrick could survive another poor result at Stamford Bridge, and that the reprieve may also give Wilcox time to secure a successor. Sky Sports said the hierarchy had already been considering alternatives. Gary Neville told Sky Sports: “I am surprised, but I am happy because I was absolutely certain that what I witnessed on Sunday would be the end of Michael.” Sky reporter Rob Dorsett was blunter: “It's an impossible situation for Carrick and feels like it's delaying the inevitable.”
Howe's price tag
Eddie Howe is Wilcox's prime candidate if United make a change, and Howe wants the job, the Guardian reported. Because of the deal struck on the rest of his contract when he left Newcastle in July, United would have to pay Newcastle about £3m to hire him, plus a minor sum for his staff, led by assistant Jason Tindall. Director of recruitment Christopher Vivell has been pushing the case for Julian Nagelsmann, the former Germany and Bayern Munich coach. VnExpress added Aston Villa's Unai Emery and Brighton's Fabian Hurzeler to the list, though their contracts could make either an expensive option.
The Bruno Fernandes question
Carrick benched captain Bruno Fernandes against Bournemouth after the Portuguese criticised the coaching staff's tactics following the 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League on 21 October; Carrick said the decision was purely technical, VnExpress reported. He now has to decide whether to bring Fernandes back at Chelsea. Dorsett said it depends on the captain's attitude: if he has apologised and tried to build bridges, Carrick is likely to welcome him back. If not, recalling him would look weak, while leaving him out and losing again would invite criticism for omitting his best player.
Eight games without a win
How the crisis has unfolded, compiled from the Guardian, Sky Sports, VnExpress and Dân trí:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 21 October | 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League; Fernandes criticises the tactics |
| 25 October | 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth; Fernandes on the bench |
| 26 October | Wilcox and Berrada meet at Carrington to discuss Carrick's future |
| 27 October | Carrick takes training and is kept on for at least one more game |
| 31 October | Away to Chelsea, Premier League |
| 3 November | Home to Roma, Champions League (UK date) |
| 8 November | Aston Villa, Premier League |
United have won twice in 12 games this season and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton. Dân trí puts them 16th with 7 points from eight league games, one point above the relegation zone, their worst league start in 40 years. The 2025/26 season looked very different: appointed in January 2026 on a deal to the end of the campaign after Ruben Amorim was sacked, Carrick won 12 of his 17 matches, finished third and took United back into the Champions League. He was made permanent head coach on 22 May, Sky Sports reported.
What comes next
Xabi Alonso's Chelsea are fifth, 6 points better off than United after eight games, despite losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham last time out. After Stamford Bridge, United host Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday 3 November, UK time (VnExpress lists it as 4 November in Vietnam), and face Aston Villa in the league on Sunday 8 November, before a two-week international break. VnExpress said their first game after the break is at Liverpool on 22 November. Another bad afternoon in London would put Carrick's future, Fernandes's role and the succession plan straight back on the table.