lead-art-block.fullscreen-enterExpandManchester United manager Michael Carrick
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick
Michael Carrick’s future at Manchester United looks increasingly untenable after his side imploded in the second half to lose 2-0 against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
A third defeat in a row, which made it nine matches without a win in all competitions for the first time since 1988-89, brought the inevitable chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from home fans, but what will hurt most for United’s beleaguered manager will be the way he was let down yet again by senior players.
Lisandro Martinez, publicly outspoken earlier this month, was booked twice inside two minutes and a more needless red card it would be hard to imagine.
Referee Peter Bankes sends off Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez
Referee Peter Bankes sends off Manchester United defender Lisandro Martinez (Adam Davy/PA)
The second yellow, for an arm raised to Wesley Fofana, also saw a penalty conceded from which Cole Palmer made it 2-0 to Chelsea, that after Morgan Rogers had scored a brilliant solo goal to show up United’s awful finishing.
The irony for Carrick is that his team had dominated the first half. They were unlucky to see Matheus Cunha’s goal disallowed, the Brazilian half a yard offside, while Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes gave up excellent chances.
Fernandes was back in the side and captain after being dropped for his outburst against Carrick following the defeat to Como on October 21. Even that seemed little more than a footnote in a chapter that surely now must be close to its end.