Fabrizio Romano: Man Utd board favors Carrick dismissal, Pochettino leading candidate

 Fabrizio Romano discussed Carrick's managerial situation on his video program.

Fabrizio Romano said

Regarding the Manchester United hierarchy

The internal situation at Manchester United continues to escalate. Let's talk about the managerial turmoil at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick's position is now precarious, and his situation is very dangerous. There are new developments, and things are constantly changing, with a lot of information to share with everyone.

The current situation is that Manchester United's two key figures – CEO Omar Berrada and Sporting Director Jason Wilcox – after completing an internal review with club management in the past 48 hours, are preparing to meet with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in the coming hours. They will present solutions for the current predicament at the meeting.

As I mentioned yesterday, there are many topics to discuss at the meeting, not just the choice of manager. Of course, fans, media, and everyone's attention is focused on the head coach, and everyone wants to know what will happen to Carrick. However, the direction of this matter is already very clear: the club's high-level management is leaning towards sacking Carrick. But the final decision rests with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Soon, Ratcliffe, Berrada, Wilcox, and other key members of Manchester United's management will meet again to finalize the decision regarding Carrick. As I said, the agenda is not limited to the head coach; it also includes discussions on the management structure, the current state of the players, and what reinforcements are needed for the winter transfer window. The meeting will cover many topics and will certainly last a long time, but the managerial issue is undoubtedly the top priority.

Regarding Carrick's situation

To be honest, I find this scene surreal, it's not at all what Manchester United should be like – regardless of the club's final decision, on one side the club's senior management is already preparing to present a plan and sack him, while on the other side Carrick is still leading training, awaiting the owner's final decision.

The final resolution has not yet been made, but market expectations are already very clear. This also highlights how complex the overall situation at Manchester United is, the problem is definitely not just with the head coach. Carrick is currently the focus of public opinion, but he is far from the only problem.

There are indeed problems with the team's performance, but everyone shouldn't just focus on the head coach or just the players. Sacking the coach is the easiest option, but Manchester United's problems are deeply rooted and not just with the coach. Carrick has not received any notification from the club so far, but of course, the situation could change at any moment. Please continue to follow subsequent developments. As I said yesterday, Carrick would most likely still lead training on Tuesday, and that was indeed the case. This is the current situation at Manchester United. The whole situation is very chaotic, completely unlike the Manchester United everyone remembers.

Regarding Manchester United's list of managerial candidates

At this stage, there is a very reliable candidate – Pochettino. Choosing him, the communication and negotiation period would not be too long. Years ago, when Manchester United considered replacing Ten Hag, the INEOS-led club management had already met with Pochettino, they knew Pochettino well and had prior contact. So he is definitely a candidate under serious consideration.

Of course, a meeting is still needed to finalize the appointment. But the club is very familiar with him. Pochettino's rich international coaching experience fits Manchester United's recruitment standards very well, and the club holds him in high regard. He is indeed on the shortlist, and he himself is willing to take on the job.

Pochettino's agent has already been in communication with Manchester United. I also mentioned in my video yesterday that Pochettino's new contract with the United States national team includes a release clause, which is approximately £10 million. Manchester United is aware of this cost. The final decision will depend on the discussion results of the owner, senior management, and all decision-makers. But Pochettino is definitely a key candidate for consideration.

This situation is also surreal for Pochettino. The United States team has repeatedly supported him, and he only just signed a new contract a few weeks ago.

Currently, nothing is finalized, but he is indeed among the candidates.

Other potential managers

Howe, Nagelsmann, and Conte are frequently mentioned names. Their biggest advantage is that they are currently unattached. If Manchester United is determined, they could quickly establish contact and negotiate, provided they are willing to take on the job.

Howe and Nagelsmann have been considered by Manchester United not just in recent days, but were already evaluated during the last managerial change. However, so far, there have been no in-depth, substantive negotiations, and Manchester United has not fully pursued these two options.

As for Conte, his momentum has significantly cooled down in the past two or three weeks. Industry sources and those close to coaching circles generally believe that Manchester United's management may have reservations about Conte – Conte dares to speak directly to club owners and senior management, dares to tell the brutal truth, and has a very direct and strong style. He is a championship-winning coach, but his approach is very sharp. To be honest, I actually think Manchester United needs someone like that right now; the team cannot keep avoiding problems. But the reality is that Manchester United is not currently in talks with Conte, and the Conte option is temporarily shelved.

To summarize the current situation: Pochettino is the main candidate; Howe and Nagelsmann are on the list, but negotiations have not progressed; Conte is currently not within the scope of discussions. This reminds me of what Rangnick said back then: Manchester United needs major heart surgery. Years later, the problem remains.

Regarding the atmosphere in the Manchester United dressing room

The players are all watching. As I said in my video last night, the players are completely unaware of Carrick's fate and what will happen next. Even the key captains in the dressing room have not received any news.

News has been leaking out constantly over the past 24 hours, suggesting Carrick is almost certainly on his way out. The players have seen these reports, but the club has not officially informed them of anything. Carrick did not say goodbye to everyone today, nor has the club informed them that a new manager will arrive in two or three days.

Everyone is just waiting, and this scene remains surreal. This is probably also why Manchester United is struggling; they are now incredibly ranked 18th in the Premier League. We will continue to follow up on the news.