Man Utd’s thoughts on letting Michael Carrick go are shared as an inside look comes out.
Some senior people at Manchester United feel Michael Carrick has been ‘let down’ by the team, according to reports—but his future is still very unclear.
United lost 4-1 to Como in the Champions League on Tuesday. After the game, captain Bruno Fernandes openly questioned the team’s tactics. Carrick went over to the away fans in Lombardy to say sorry for the poor performance, but he also made it clear that he’s fully committed to the job.
After the defeat, reports said Julian Nagelsmann might be a possible replacement for Carrick. However, INEOS, the club’s owners, haven’t made a final decision yet. New information has come out that shows how the club’s leaders really feel about Carrick’s position.
According to BBC Sport, Carrick is expected to stay in charge for Sunday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth at Old Trafford. At 45 years old, he will try to stop a run of seven games without a win in all competitions.
Some senior folks at United believe Carrick has been let down by players who aren’t performing well. They also know that changing managers so often in recent years hasn’t helped bring stability or long-term success to the club.
There’s also some recognition—though it’s not clear how much—of the progress United made last season under Carrick’s leadership. Sadly, that hasn’t carried over to this season.
But it’s important to note that United have already started looking for possible new managers. Many names are being discussed, but whether any will be liked by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS is still up in the air.
Eddie Howe was the favorite in the latest betting odds on Wednesday night, but Antonio Conte, Fabian Hurzeler, and Nagelsmann have also been linked with the job—if it opens up. According to Ben Jacobs, Brighton’s boss Hurzeler isn’t interested in managing United.
At his post-match press conference, Carrick was asked if he thought the players were still playing for him after the big loss to Como.
“It shouldn’t be about me. It’s not about playing for me,” he answered firmly. “It’s about playing for this football club. That’s the responsibility we all have. I’m the one in charge. I’m responsible to this club and the fans. I always give my absolute best. I care deeply. My whole life revolves around this. Sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn’t. But I honestly give everything I can.
“It’s not about me. It’s about what we all give — players and staff — for this club.”