Michael Carrick knew his time as Manchester United manager was ending well before he left the club on Thursday, according to well-placed sources. Meanwhile, United are moving quickly to bring in Mauricio Pochettino, who has been in talks with the club since Monday.
Carrick was given clear warning signs
On Monday, Carrick’s agent received a call from chief executive Omar Berrada. Berrada told him that Carrick and director of football Jason Wilcox would travel to Monaco for a planned meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, where the head coach’s future would be discussed. A day later, Wilcox is believed to have held a similar conversation with Carrick.
On both occasions, the club made clear that a recommendation about Carrick’s future would be put forward. It is not clear whether Carrick and his representatives understood that the recommendation would be his dismissal.
Results and performances fell short
United placed great importance on their next three matches after heavy defeats to Como and Bournemouth. Those games were against Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa. The club’s leadership told Carrick that results and performances had to improve. A defeat, a victory and a draw were not enough to save him.
Sources say there was not enough progress in that period, particularly in the team’s structure. United conceded eight goals across the three games.
The season had started poorly, with a defeat at newly promoted Hull City, and it only declined from there. United are third from bottom of the Premier League and 17th in the Champions League table.
A positive start that faded
United first appointed Carrick on an interim basis after they sacked Ruben Amorim in January. He had an immediate positive impact on the squad and on results. The club valued his messaging to players and the media, and felt he brought calm to a turbulent period and protected his players at every opportunity. That contrasted with the closing stages of Amorim’s tenure.
The hierarchy also felt Carrick’s style gave the forward players more freedom. United won 12 of their last 17 matches of the season under him. When the club considered other options in the summer, it decided Carrick had earned a chance to take the job permanently. The 45-year-old signed a two-year contract, although United protected themselves contractually in case of an early exit. The club also wanted to give its players stability after a period of frequent managerial changes.
Carrick has conducted himself with great dignity during the turmoil of recent days. He leaves the club with his standing as a United great intact, at least in the eyes of supporters.
Pochettino’s move to Old Trafford
Talks with Pochettino have been ongoing since Monday. United were aware of a $10m (£7m) release clause in his contract with the United States national team, and sources indicate that representatives of the Argentine informed the Premier League club of it. On Wednesday, Berrada contacted the US Soccer Federation to confirm the clause existed and that United intended to activate it.
Those in the United States were not surprised by the news. Pochettino had been open with his employers about his talks with United and his wish to return to the Premier League.
United want Pochettino in post as soon as possible, but they recognize that the USA still have two fixtures against Haiti. The second of those matches takes place on 18 November. If Pochettino takes charge of that game, he is expected to be at United’s Carrington training ground on 19 November, four days before United face Liverpool.