Manchester United chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox held talks over the future of under-fire head coach Michael Carrick, who arrived at the Carrington training complex on Monday morning.
The popular former Red Devils midfielder steadied the ship after Ruben Amorim’s rocky reign and helped change its course. His January arrival inspired the side’s rise to third in the Premier League. Carrick was rewarded with a two-year deal to stay on as United boss, but just five months later he faces the sack following Sunday’s 3-0 loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
Talks over the managerial situation followed that defeat and continued after Berrada and Wilcox arrived at Carrington, the Press Association understands. Carrick arrived at the training ground shortly before 2 p.m., as United’s Under-21s took on Hull in a behind closed doors friendly. Hull helped ensure United got their Premier League season off to a nightmare start.
Replacements under consideration
Sources said Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are potential replacements for Carrick.
Carrick’s side are without a win in eight games. They were beaten by Bournemouth days after a 4-1 Champions League loss at Como. United have won just two of their 12 matches in all competitions this season, and their seven-point return from eight league matches represents their worst start to a season since 1986.
The club sits just one point above the relegation zone in 16th place ahead of Saturday’s trip to Chelsea. United then head into the international break with home games against Roma and Aston Villa.
Fans direct anger at the owners
Carrick sidestepped questions about his future after the Bournemouth defeat, but he appeared to know the writing was on the wall. He waved to the crowd and patted his chest as he left the pitch, and fans supportively chanted his name.
The Old Trafford faithful directed their anger elsewhere. They aimed it at the Glazers, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Ineos set-up and United director of football Wilcox. Players were booed at the final whistle, and they were booed again as they followed Carrick down the tunnel. The manager left skipper Bruno Fernandes on the bench that day.
Fernandes and the wider unrest
The 32-year-old has been a pale imitation of the player who won last season’s Professional Footballers’ Association and Football Writers’ Association awards. The frustrated captain questioned the manager’s tactics after the Como defeat. Carrick described the decision to leave Fernandes out as a “pure football” call made before the match, not a punishment, but he decided against giving the captain a minute on the pitch.
Fernandes was also at Carrington on Monday, a day off for the players, to receive what is understood to be pre-planned treatment.
The skipper’s eye-catching remarks in Italy came a week after Lisandro Martínez was fined and brought in for talks. He had criticised the club hierarchy in a set of stunning interviews after the loss at Atlético Madrid.