INEOS shares its thoughts on letting Michael Carrick go after a tough start to the season
INEOS’s true feelings about the possibility of sacking Michael Carrick have come to light following Manchester United’s rough start to the 2026/27 season.
Even though Carrick led United to third place last year, this season hasn’t been easy. After four games, the team sits 13th in the league, with just one win, one draw, and two losses.
Things got worse after they lost 3-2 to Brighton in the Carabao Cup third round at Old Trafford. Fans inside the stadium were clearly upset, with some even questioning whether Carrick should stay as coach.
But according to TeamTalk, United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, fully supports Carrick and wants him to keep his job. INEOS also reportedly has no plans to replace him. A source told TeamTalk, “The club really believes Michael Carrick is a great young coach. There won’t be any quick decisions here.
“Things haven’t gone as planned for Michael and the team so far. Two amazing goals from Everton stopped a win in a game they should have won. And the recent loss to Man City was decided by a goal the Premier League later said shouldn’t have counted.”
Laurie Whitwell from The Athletic also said there’s no sign that United are preparing backup coaching options right now, despite recent pressure on Carrick and the wider coaching staff.
United’s next match is away at Fulham on September 20. They’ll be hoping to get back on track after losing to Manchester City and Brighton recently. Carrick is signed on until 2028, having agreed to a two-year deal this summer to become the permanent head coach.
During a press conference on Friday, Carrick addressed the rumors and said he believes things will improve for his team, even after losing three of their first six matches this season.
“I don’t think it’s just a couple of bad games. Honestly, that talk doesn’t matter to me. I know this club, my role here, and what’s expected in terms of the standards we want to play at,” Carrick said.
“Worrying about my future or ownership changes isn’t on my mind—it’s just not something I’m thinking about. I understand what we need to achieve and where the club is right now. We’ve had a few games without the results we wanted, which is frustrating because I hate losing—but it’s not the end of the world. We have a lot of games ahead and that’s what we’re preparing for.”
About taking responsibility for the poor results, he added: “That’s why I’m here—it’s my job. I’m happy to take the blame if needed, but it’s not about blaming anyone. It’s about finding solutions together. It’s a team effort. I’m fully committed to this, and I want us to get where we’re going quickly.”