According to The Daily Telegraph, Manchester United management will hold crisis talks today to decide the future of head coach Michael Carrick. After a devastating 0-3 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth, Manchester United have lost six of their last 12 games and are only one point above the relegation zone, putting Carrick's position under severe threat.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher stated that Carrick's position is "untenable," while former Manchester United captain Gary Neville suggested that sacking Carrick "might be necessary." The Daily Telegraph understands that as of Sunday evening, Manchester United had not made a formal decision, and club executives, including Football Director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada, will meet on Monday morning to discuss the next steps.
Manchester United may have no choice but to appoint their third head coach this year, but it is understood they wish to carefully and calmly weigh all options before making a final decision. Carrick stated on Sunday that he knew nothing about his future but denied that his post-match lap of honor to salute the fans was a farewell.
"It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from that," Carrick said when discussing his prospects at Manchester United. "We'll just have to wait and see."
Just 10 months after Carrick replaced Amorim, Manchester United have already begun to explore potential replacements, with Eddie Howe and Thomas Nagelsmann being the main candidates. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery and Brighton & Hove Albion manager Fabian Hürzeler are also admired, but poaching either of them could prove very costly and complicated, with no guarantee of success. Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte and Kieran McKenna have also been linked to the position.
Manchester United will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime, followed by a Champions League match against AS Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday, and then host Aston Villa five days later.
The speed of Manchester United's collapse this season has shocked the club, with the past week being particularly difficult for all involved. The AFC Bournemouth defeat followed a 1-4 Champions League thrashing by Como. If Carrick is dismissed, Manchester United will be on their fourth permanent manager since Sir Jim Ratcliffe took over day-to-day operations at Old Trafford from the Glazer family in February 2024. Erik ten Hag was in charge at the time, and Manchester United decided to extend his contract after interviewing a range of potential successors, only to sack him 116 days later. Amorim lasted 14 months, and now Carrick is also under pressure.
The atmosphere at Old Trafford on Sunday was angry and rebellious, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Glazer family, Jason Wilcox, and the board all facing sustained criticism from Manchester United fans.
Former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Nagelsmann, who previously managed Bayern Munich and the German national team, have supporters within Manchester United's management, some of whom firmly believe that Premier League experience is crucial at this time.
When asked if he expected to be sacked, Carrick said: "I completely understand the current situation. I have no expectations either way."
"I work as usual. I love this place. I will always do what I think is best for the club, and I won't change that now, no matter what decision is made."
"It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from that. What happens next, I really don't know. I love my job, I feel this responsibility – we'll just have to wait and see."
"I take responsibility. I respect my position, and the responsibility is mine. What more can I really say now?"
Carrick said after the match that he had not yet discussed his future with Jason Wilcox or Omar Berrada. Berrada was seen shaking his head in disbelief in the directors' box when AFC Bournemouth scored their second goal just before halftime.
"No, they just came down as usual after the game, nothing unusual," Carrick said.
Both Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher believe Carrick will lose his job. "It's untenable now," Carragher said on Sky Sports. "Carrick wants to be put out of his misery. He doesn't want to be sitting on that bench with these players. Can you imagine going to the training ground with Bruno Fernandes tomorrow? He didn't even play Bruno Fernandes. He wants out of this situation."
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville added: "It's going to be incredibly difficult for Carrick to continue as Manchester United manager. Those two [Berrada and Wilcox] might have to make a decision that Manchester United fans will dislike, but it might be necessary. It's an absolute mess. The club is in chaos right now."
Carrick benched captain Bruno Fernandes and refused to bring him on as a substitute after Fernandes criticized his tactics following the Como defeat. Throughout the AFC Bournemouth game, Carrick received support from Manchester United fans, a stark contrast to the abuse directed at the ownership, management, and players. As soon as Carrick disappeared down the tunnel, the Stretford End – which had previously targeted the Glazer family, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and Jason Wilcox – booed the players who followed him.
At the final whistle, Carrick did a lap of honor, applauding the fans who chanted his name, and at one point placed his hand over his heart, a moving moment. But Carrick denied it was a farewell.
"It's not a farewell from me," he said. "To be honest, I probably didn't really expect the fans to react like that, but I've always felt their support and connection."
"It's going to take a bit of time to digest, but of course, I appreciate their support. It's hard for me to experience a day like this at this club and feel these emotions."
"I feel for my players; they are going through a tough time. Emotions are running high in the dressing room right now, and to be honest, a lot of the lads are hurting. It's not that they don't care or want to be in this position. I've spoken to some of them, and it's affecting them deeply."
However, Gary Neville criticized the players, suggesting they were no longer fighting for Carrick. "They're not putting in the effort, and they've shown that many times before," he said. "They're like a tap, deciding when to turn it on and when to turn it off."
Defender Harry Maguire – who captained the team in Fernandes' absence – defended Carrick despite another poor performance from the team. This was Manchester United's third 0-3 home loss to AFC Bournemouth in four games, conceding a total of 13 goals in that span. "As players, we're not doing enough at the moment," Maguire said. "Michael turned our season around last year, and we played some great football and got some great results. This season, individually, we haven't performed well enough."