Jamie Carragher makes a bold claim that Michael Carrick might want to be let go from Manchester United.
The pressure on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has really reached a tipping point. Sky Sports expert Jamie Carragher even said Carrick seems like he “wants to be sacked” after their tough 0-3 loss to Bournemouth, especially since Bruno Fernandes wasn’t even picked for the game.
Tensions at Manchester United are running high this week. Team captain Fernandes openly criticised Carrick and the tactics after a heavy loss to Como in the Champions League. This is the second time in just days that a United player has spoken out against the club’s management, following some strong words from Lisandro Martinez in interviews.
Despite playing in the Champions League earlier this week, neither Martinez nor Fernandes started against Bournemouth, with Carrick making a bold choice in his lineup. The manager said the decision was purely about football and that sometimes tough calls have to be made.
But as Old Trafford started emptying early during the Bournemouth game, Carragher didn’t hold back. He accused Carrick of “wanting to get sacked” and even suggested he was trying to embarrass Fernandes on purpose. Speaking on Sky Sports, Carragher said it seemed like Carrick was waving a white flag by dropping these key players.
“When you ask if Michael Carrick will be changed, the answer is yes. He wants to be changed,” Carragher said. “He doesn’t want to be coaching this group anymore. It’s a tough time for everyone, and no one seems to be enjoying watching Carrick’s team right now. Imagine walking into training after not bringing on Fernandes in that situation—it’s a tough spot. It feels like Carrick wants to end this chapter.”
Earlier, Carragher had defended Carrick by calling Fernandes ‘a disgrace’ for some of his behaviour. But now he thinks leaving Fernandes on the bench was a clear statement from the manager. “It felt like a deliberate move to embarrass him,” Carragher added.
Another Sky pundit, Ashley Young, was even less kind to Fernandes, criticising the midfielder’s actions before the match.
After the game, Carrick took a full lap of the pitch to applaud the remaining supporters. He said it wasn’t a goodbye but an emotional apology for the team’s poor performance.
“This wasn’t farewell,” Carrick said on Sky. “I’ve got mixed feelings—especially for my players, who are going through a hard time. Some things we can fix; some things are just tough right now. The fans’ reaction means a lot, even if it’s a tough situation. It’ll take some time to process, but I truly appreciate their support. We haven’t been getting the results or performances we want. It’s not easy. What happens next, I’m not sure. But I will always give my best for this club. I love what I do and feel a strong responsibility. We’ll just have to see what comes next.”
If Carrick does leave, fans have already started sharing their ideas about who should take over next.