Michael Carrick will remain as Manchester United manager for the Premier League trip to Chelsea this weekend. The decision follows high-level talks on Monday involving chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and the club's ownership, offering Carrick at least one more game to try and reverse a dismal run of form.
The club sits 16th in the Premier League standings with just seven points from eight games, one point above the relegation zone. This precarious position follows a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday, which extended United's winless streak to eight matches in all competitions. Supporters at Old Trafford turned their anger on the players, booing them off the pitch and chanting against the ownership, though they sang Carrick's name and applauded him.
The defeat that sparked the crisis
The 3-0 loss to Bournemouth was United's eighth consecutive match without a victory. Key senior players Bruno Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez were left on the bench for the game, a decision that contributed to the toxic atmosphere. The result leaves the team with only two wins in 12 games this season, a run that includes a 4-1 Champions League loss to Como last week.
Carrick, who arrived at the Carrington training ground at 7.30am on Tuesday as normal, has accepted responsibility for the team's struggles. "I will remain as Manchester United manager for the Premier League trip to Chelsea," Carrick said. The 45-year-old former United midfielder, who had a 12-year playing career at the club, insists he is carrying on as normal and will always do what he feels is best for the football club.
Chelsea test and club context
The immediate challenge is a daunting away fixture against Chelsea on Saturday, October 31. Chelsea are currently fifth in the table, and the last meeting between the sides in September ended in a heavy 5-0 defeat for United. Senior officials believe the team can create chances on the counter-attack, a tactic that has brought some success under Carrick in the past year.
With the pressure immense, Carrick must now resolve the situations regarding Fernandes and Martinez and find a way to stop the slide. The team has scored just 8 goals in the league this season, conceding 13. Carrick will lead training this week ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge, where another poor result could force the club's hand.
The report in full is at Manchester Evening News
