Manchester United look increasingly likely to sack head coach Michael Carrick following their poor start to the domestic campaign. The club previously decided to stick with Carrick after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October, intending to review his position during the international break.
Potential Replacements and Board Discussions
Multiple sources told BBC Sport that the board remain committed to their assessment process and have not yet made a final decision on Carrick’s future. However, a growing expectation remains that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox will recommend to minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family that Carrick be dismissed. A 4-4 draw against Aston Villa left United sitting 18th in the table, marking their worst domestic start in 40 years.
BBC Sport reported in October that the club previously sounded out former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann as potential replacements. Former Chelsea coach Antonio Conte is reportedly keen on the position, while multiple sources told BBC Sport that former Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino is open to moving to Old Trafford. Pochettino signed a contract extension as USA coach in August, though the deal is believed to include clauses allowing him to leave for high-profile roles ahead of the team’s Concacaf Nations League play-off against Haiti on 14 and 18 November.
Unraveling of Carrick’s Tenure
The Villa draw was Carrick’s third match in charge since the club chose to give the 45-year-old additional time. Results during that period yielded a win, a draw, and a defeat, showcasing a team that frequently shipped goals while displaying character to recover from two goals down on three occasions. United’s board initially considered dismissing Carrick following the Bournemouth loss but felt the Englishman and his squad deserved an opportunity to reverse their fortunes during the two-week November international break.
United have secured only one victory in 10 Premier League matches, resulting in their lowest start to a top-flight campaign since the 1986/87 season. The team sits 18th in the standings, one point above bottom-placed Crystal Palace, having conceded 19 goals—a defensive tally surpassed only by the Eagles and Ipswich.
The unraveling began in the days leading up to the season opener at Hull. With Benjamin Sesko returning from a shin issue and Amad Diallo sidelined for seven weeks with an ankle injury, Carrick lacked his primary striking alternative and deployed Bryan Mbeumo on the right. Carrick instead used Matheus Cunha, whose tendency to drop deep congested the space preferred by captain Bruno Fernandes, neutralizing United’s attack against a physically motivated opponent.
Former Norway and Middlesbrough striker Jan Aage Fjortoft claimed on Viaplay that United lacked passion, a remark Carrick dismissed as “ridiculous,” stating to the media that it was only one game. The following week, a slip from Marcelino Nunez allowed Cunha to set up Fernandes for an equaliser in a 5-2 win against Ipswich. Fernandes, who was recently named PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26, has scored just once in the league since—a penalty against Villa.
Following the Ipswich victory, United drew 2-2 with Everton after Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored a long-range effort deep into stoppage time to cancel out Sesko’s late goal. When asked about his confidence in the team’s ability to react, Carrick snapped back that the situation had not been that bad. Subsequent struggles included a defeat to a 10-man Manchester City side—where referees’ chief Howard Webb later admitted Erling Haaland’s goal should not have stood—and a 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to Brighton after holding a 2-0 lead.
Further complications arose as injuries mounted to Sesko, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford, leading Carrick to deploy five different players at left-back. Following a 2-0 Champions League defeat by Atletico Madrid, defender Lisandro Martinez criticized United’s summer recruitment and blamed technical director Wilcox. Fernandes also criticized Carrick’s tactics after a subsequent 4-1 Champions League loss to Como. Fernandes was dropped for the Bournemouth game and returned as captain in a defeat against Chelsea, leaving Carrick with just three wins in 15 matches across all competitions this season.
With three wins in 15 matches across all competitions this season, Carrick is set to pay the price.
