Under-fire Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick arrived at the Carrington training complex on Monday as chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox held talks over his future. Sources told the Press Association that the talks followed Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
The popular former Red Devils midfielder steadied the ship after Ruben Amorim’s rocky reign and helped the club change course. His arrival in January inspired the side’s rise to third in the Premier League. Carrick earned a two-year contract to stay on as United boss, but just five months later he faces the sack.
Carrick arrived at the training ground shortly before 2 p.m., as United’s Under-21s took on Hull in a behind-closed-doors friendly. Hull helped ensure United got their Premier League season off to a nightmare start. Talks over the managerial situation continued after Berrada and Wilcox arrived at Carrington on Monday morning.
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are potential replacements for Carrick, sources said.
A season unravelling
Carrick’s side has not won in eight games, following the defeat to Bournemouth days after a 4-1 Champions League loss at Como. United have won just two of their 12 matches in all competitions this season. Their seven-point return from eight league matches is their worst start to a season since 1986.
The club sits just one point above the relegation zone in 16th place. United travel to Chelsea on Saturday and then host Roma and Aston Villa before the international break.
Carrick sidestepped questions about his future after the Bournemouth defeat. He appeared to know the writing was on the wall, waving to the crowd and patting his chest as he left the pitch. Fans supportively chanted his name. The supporters’ anger, however, was aimed at the Glazers, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos set-up and Wilcox. Players were booed at the final whistle and again as they followed Carrick down the tunnel.
Fernandes on the bench
Carrick left skipper Bruno Fernandes on the bench against Bournemouth. The 32-year-old has been a pale imitation of the player who won last season’s Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association awards. The frustrated captain had questioned the manager’s tactics after the Como defeat.
Carrick described the decision as a “pure football” call made before the match, not a punishment, but Fernandes did not get a minute on the pitch. Fernandes was also at Carrington on Monday, a day off for the players, to receive what is understood to be pre-planned treatment.
The skipper’s eye-catching remarks in Italy came a week after Lisandro Martínez was fined and brought in for talks. Martínez had criticised the club hierarchy in a series of stunning interviews after the loss at Atlético Madrid.