Michael Carrick's future as Manchester United head coach is in serious doubt after the 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford on 25 October. The Guardian reports that the club's hierarchy held crisis talks over whether to sack him and are actively considering his dismissal. According to Sky Sports, United's bosses had already been looking at alternatives before the match and will now speed up that process, with insiders expecting Carrick to be relieved of his duties. Neither outlet reported an official announcement from the club.
Who makes the call
Sky Sports says the decision will come down to director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, who will make a recommendation to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The Guardian adds that Ratcliffe controls football policy at the club, and that Wilcox's view on a successor may carry more weight with him than that of head of recruitment Christopher Vivell.
The names in the frame
The two outlets broadly agree on the shortlist but differ on the pecking order:
| Candidate | The Guardian | Sky Sports |
|---|---|---|
| Eddie Howe | Wilcox's preferred choice, open to the job, cheaper than Emery | One of two frontrunners; out of work since leaving Newcastle in July, no compensation needed |
| Julian Nagelsmann | Highly regarded by Vivell | The other frontrunner; out of work since leaving the Germany job after the World Cup, worked with Vivell at RB Leipzig |
| Unai Emery | Admired, but Aston Villa would want about £20m in compensation | Considered, but committed to Aston Villa |
| Antonio Conte | May be in the frame | Considered, not among the current favourites |
Sky Sports has been told Howe, who said he wanted a break when he resigned at Newcastle, would be interested in talking to United if a vacancy arises; he was also recommended in the past by former sporting director Dan Ashworth. Jamie Carragher argued on Sky Sports that Emery should be the first target: "I think Emery is the best manager in the Premier League." Among supporters, Bongdaplus found Conte the most popular name on social media, ahead of Nagelsmann, Emery, Howe and Fabian Hürzeler.
Carrick: "It wasn’t a farewell from me"
Carrick was defiant afterwards. "I totally understand the situation," he told reporters, according to the Guardian. "I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. Carrying on as normal, and I love this place." He added: "It’s a tough situation, there’s no hiding from it."
The Stretford End cheered him as he applauded the fans at full time, the Guardian notes, but as soon as he disappeared down the tunnel the boos started for Bruno Fernandes, an unused substitute, and the rest of the players.
A dressing room under strain
The relationship between coach and squad is at the heart of the story. Over the past fortnight, the Guardian notes, Fernandes publicly criticised Carrick's tactics after the Champions League defeat at Como and has not apologised, while Lisandro Martínez said sorry for criticising Wilcox, though not to the director of football himself. Bongdaplus, citing Football Insider, reports that the board fear the run of negative comments, including from former manager Erik ten Hag, is damaging the dressing-room atmosphere.
The players have publicly backed their coach. Before the match goalkeeper Senne Lammens insisted that players, staff and the board were all behind the manager, Bongda24h reported. Afterwards stand-in captain Harry Maguire said the squad were "fully behind" Carrick, according to the Guardian, adding: "As individuals, we’re not playing well enough."
The pundits are less hopeful. "They are probably going to sack him," Gary Neville said on his podcast, according to Sky Sports, while Carragher added: "It has become untenable."
How it came to this
A timeline compiled by KBVN+ from the Guardian and Sky Sports:
- Last season: Carrick took over, turned results around and secured Champions League football for this season, in Maguire's words.
- 10 September: United beat Sabah in the Champions League, their most recent win in any competition.
- The past fortnight: Martínez criticises Wilcox; Fernandes criticises the tactics after the Como defeat.
- 25 October: a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, with Fernandes unused and Maguire back as captain, the armband he lost to Fernandes in July 2023.
The Guardian counts six defeats in 12 games in all competitions, with only one league win this season and United 16th. Sky Sports calls it the club's worst-ever start to a Premier League season, an eight-game winless run that leaves them just above the relegation zone.
What's next
The next step, per Sky Sports, is the Wilcox and Berrada recommendation to Ratcliffe. Should Carrick go, both Howe and Nagelsmann could start quickly. The match itself is covered in a separate report; for the build-up, including the dressing-room rows and the names already linked with the job, see our Man Utd pre-Bournemouth preview.