Premier League - Chelsea v Nottingham Forest - Stamford Bridge
Premier League - Chelsea v Nottingham Forest - Stamford Bridge
Man United are heading into another European night with the manager's future hanging over everything.
Michael Carrick remains in charge for tonight's Champions League meeting with Roma, but the pressure has followed him straight back from Stamford Bridge.
Man United manager Michael Carrick
Man United manager Michael Carrick
Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Chelsea extended United's miserable sequence to nine matches without a win.
Seven points have been scraped together across nine league fixtures, and United currently sit 17th, clinging to safety by virtue of their goal difference.
Carrick has already had to take a 4-1 beating at Como and a 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth, with Chelsea then making it three straight losses, leaving him badly in need of a response.
United's only victories this season have come against Ipswich and Sabah, and across 13 competitive games, they have lost seven times.
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|Man United’s 2026/27 results before the Roma match|
|Date (2026)|Opponent|Venue|Competition|Score|Result|
|---|
|22 August|Hull City|Away|Premier League|0–2|Loss|
|6 September|Everton|Away|Premier League|2–2|Draw|
|10 September|Sabah|Home|Champions League|4–0|Win|
|13 September|Man City|Home|Premier League|0–1|Loss|
|16 September|Brighton|Home|League Cup|2–3|Loss|
|20 September|Fulham|Away|Premier League|1–1|Draw|
|10 October|Tottenham|Home|Premier League|1–1|Draw|
|18 October|Leeds|Away|Premier League|1–1|Draw|
|21 October|Como|Away|Champions League|1–4|Loss|
|25 October|Bournemouth|Home|Premier League|0–3|Loss|
|31 October|Chelsea|Away|Premier League|0–2|Loss|
Carrick was still talking on Monday about finding solutions and getting his players ready for Roma, but he insisted uncertainty over his position would not alter their preparations.
He also defended Lisandro Martínez's commitment following the defender's dismissal at Chelsea and maintained that the dressing room remained together.
lisandro-martinez-man-utd
Those words now need to be followed by something on the pitch, with Roma visiting first, and Aston Villa arriving at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Guardian expects Carrick's position to be reviewed again during the international break, but behind that immediate battle, the debate over possible replacements continues.
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are believed to be leading contenders should United decide to make a change.
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann
Howe is believed to be open to discussions if the job becomes available, while director of football Jason Wilcox is understood to favour someone with Premier League experience.
Nagelsmann has an important connection of his own, with United recruitment chief Christopher Vivell knowing him well from their time together at RB Leipzig.
Unai Emery and Antonio Conte have also been considered, although Sky Sports' recent reporting places them behind the leading pair, and there is now a potentially useful development concerning Nagelsmann.
Man United’s 26/27 results before the Roma match
julian-nagelsmann-germany
Sky Germany has dismissed suggestions that Fenerbahçe and Juventus are pursuing the former Germany coach, while maintaining that he remains a candidate for United.
The broadcaster says neither of those reported moves are currently on the cards.
That could leave United with a free run at Nagelsmann if they choose him, with two supposed rivals removed from the discussion, and it is an encouraging update for anyone at Old Trafford backing the German.
Nagelsmann-Germany-Havertz-Arsenal
Nagelsmann, who Jurgen Klopp has branded an 'exceptional' coach, is available after leaving the Germany job following the World Cup, and his previous work at Bayern Munich and Leipzig gives him experience of managing clubs with major European ambitions.
Vivell's familiarity with him could also help United assess whether he is the right fit for their next move, and this isn't the only job in England he's previously been a major contender for.
Back in 2023, as per Nagelsmann's own agent at the time, he was Chelsea's 'number one' choice to succeed Graham Potter in 2023 before pulling out of contention.
graham-potter-west-ham-premier-league
The bigger decision still belongs to United, as Carrick remains the man preparing the team, and Howe continues to feature prominently in the conversation.
But if United decide Nagelsmann is their answer, Sky Germany's update suggests they need not fear being beaten to him by either Juventus or Fenerbahçe.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks dejected after the match
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick looks dejected after the match