Manchester United is currently evaluating whether to terminate Michael Carrick’s contract as head coach. Director of football Jason Wilcox is overseeing this review, consulting with chief executive Omar Berrada before presenting a final recommendation to Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who maintains control over the club’s sporting policy.
The pressure on Carrick follows a dismal start to the campaign, leaving United in the Premier League relegation zone with only three victories across 15 matches in all competitions. Carrick narrowly avoided dismissal following a 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on October 25. At that time, Wilcox and Berrada granted him a three-game window to prove the squad could improve, covering matches against Chelsea, Roma, and Aston Villa. But after Wilcox and Berrada met the following day at the training ground to discuss his position, Carrick was given the three games until the international break to prove he and the players could reverse a dismal start.
United’s form during this period remained inconsistent. The team suffered a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea, secured a 3-2 comeback win against Roma after trailing by two goals, and played out a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa this past Sunday. In the Villa match, United fell behind by two goals within four minutes, highlighting a persistent issue with conceding early. Similar defensive lapses were evident in recent losses, including a 4-1 defeat at Como where Nico Paz scored after two minutes, and a 2-0 loss at Atlético Madrid where Pablo Barrios scored inside the first minute. In the Roma victory they were 2-0 behind in a poor opening 45 minutes before three goals in a rousing second one. Strikes from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu rescuing a point, on Sunday United twice trailed by two goals and entered added time 4-2 down. At Chelsea, Carrick’s side impressed in the first half but failed to convert chances before conceding twice after the interval, the second from a penalty after Lisandro Martínez was sent off.
Despite the ongoing struggles, there are no plans to supplement the current coaching staff. Should the club decide to part ways with Carrick, former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe remains the favored candidate for the position. While Howe is currently on a sabbatical, he is considered open to evaluating a potential offer to take charge at Old Trafford.
