Michael Carrick gave Man Utd a surprising boost just before an important meeting
Michael Carrick’s future at Manchester United will be decided in a meeting on Wednesday, November 11, and it looks like he might get a second chance.
On Monday evening, many reports said that Man United might part ways with Carrick before their big game against Liverpool on November 22, after one of their worst Premier League starts ever. The Red Devils have only won once and earned eight points from their first 10 games, leaving Carrick’s position uncertain — or so everyone thought.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will meet in Monaco on Wednesday, along with CEO Omar Berrada and football director Jason Wilcox, who are expected to recommend that Carrick be let go. Mauricio Pochettino, a former Chelsea and Tottenham manager and now in charge of the US national team, is one of the top candidates to take over, though his contract includes a £7.4 million buyout fee. Pochettino is interested if the job is offered, and other strong candidates include Julian Nagelsmann and Eddie Howe.
However, instead of firing Carrick, there’s a surprise possibility. BBC Sport says Ratcliffe and Wilcox might bring in extra coaching help to support him. One option is Aaron Donks, a Bayern Munich coach who worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough and was even considered as a replacement over the summer. Adding Donks could give Carrick some breathing room during this tough time.
Right now, Carrick’s coaching team includes Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Travis Binion, Craig Mawson, and Jonny Evans. The chance of bringing in Donks might just save Carrick’s job for now.
Last month, after a poor 3-0 loss to Bournemouth, the club stood by Carrick and gave him more time. Since then, United lost 2-0 to Chelsea but also had a thrilling 3-2 win over Roma in the Champions League and a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.
These fights show that the players still back their manager, but the team’s struggle to stop goals is worrying. Berrada and Wilcox think a change in coaching might be needed to fix things. United have already conceded 30 goals in 15 games this season, which is a real problem.
Carrick seemed to feel the pressure after the Villa game. When a reporter asked about his future, he hesitated, then said, “You know the situation, we haven’t won enough games. But I expect to move forward with things we’ve been working on, showing a lot of the good from today, tighten up a few mistakes, and win some football matches.”
The club could back him after the international break and support him with more coaching help he trusts. Fans should get an update in the next 24 hours.