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Manchester United’s top hierarchy is gathering in Monaco on Wednesday to resolve the future of head coach Michael Carrick. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are scheduled to meet with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, with both executives expected to advise that the club part ways with the manager, as reported by BBC Sport.
Discussions have already begun with United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino regarding the possibility of taking over should Carrick be dismissed. The development follows a difficult start to the campaign that has left United languishing in 18th place in the Premier League. The squad has secured just a single victory from their opening 10 domestic fixtures, marking the club’s lowest league standing at this phase of a top-flight season since 1986-87.
The Backdrop to the Monaco Gathering
The meeting between Ratcliffe, Berrada, and Wilcox was pre-scheduled as part of regular executive reviews rather than arranged specifically to address Carrick’s position. Ratcliffe resides in Monaco, where Ineos maintains offices. While Berrada and Ratcliffe communicate on a daily basis, any formal decision regarding the manager has been held until executives can consult in person, alongside the desire to speak directly to Carrick face-to-face before any public announcement.
The situation presents a major test for Ratcliffe, who purchased a 28.94% stake in the club for slightly more than £1 billion in late 2023. Managerial instability has persisted under Ineos oversight. Erik ten Hag survived multiple reviews—including a lengthy summit in London—before being dismissed early into his campaign, while his successor Ruben Amorim was removed in January just 19 hours after a post-match press conference.
Defensive Struggles and Managerial Alternatives
United initially chose to back Carrick following a comprehensive 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on October 25, intending to evaluate the project over the November international window. However, recent fixtures highlighted continued defensive fragility. United fought back from two goals behind to defeat Roma 3-2, lost 2-0 to Chelsea following a red card for Lisandro Martinez, and relied on two comebacks from two-goal deficits to secure a draw against Aston Villa.
Across 15 matches in all competitions this season, United have conceded 30 goals—including 19 in 10 Premier League games. While the squad demonstrated resilience during their recent comebacks, club leadership concluded that the chaotic performances warrant a leadership change to arrest the decline.
Alongside Pochettino, former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte, and Julian Nagelsmann have been linked with the post. Former Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna, previously an assistant coach at Old Trafford, was also considered, though United are thought to favor candidates with greater senior experience. Another internal alternative has involved recruiting additional backroom staff to assist Carrick, with Bayern Munich coach Aaron Danks viewed as a possible candidate.
Board Dynamics and Immediate Team Schedule
Any recommendation put forward by Wilcox and Berrada requires final approval from both Ratcliffe and the Glazer family. Despite delegating sporting control to Ineos, six of the 12 board seats belong to Glazer family members, including co-chairmen Joel and Avi Glazer, who retain a casting vote under club regulations.
Carrick has continued his routine duties at Carrington with players not involved in international action, including Mason Mount, Joshua Zirkzee, and Matthijs de Ligt, alongside recovering players such as Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford. Training sessions were scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday before a short rest period, with preparations for the November 22 fixture against Liverpool set to resume when international players return.
“Obviously some of the boys will be flying off around the world and different things, and the group will be split for 10 days or so, but as a normal international week is, we’ll have some training and we’ll have one or two days off,” Carrick said after the Aston Villa match. “Not too much. But we’ll train and get ready for the next game.”
