Alan Shearer believes Michael Carrick is under growing pressure at Manchester United, but the former striker also feels the club did not give its head coach enough support in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United have collected only five points from their opening five Premier League matches under Carrick and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton. Defeats to Manchester City and Hull City, along with a draw against Fulham, have increased scrutiny around the manager and his ability to change the team’s fortunes after the international break.
Shearer accepts Carrick is under pressure, but believes the recruitment strategy has left him with too few solutions.
“Michael Carrick is under pressure, but I guess you know the rules in football if you don’t win, and particularly more so at the bigger clubs,” Shearer said. “They haven’t had a great start, they have just been average at best,” Shearer said as quoted by Football365.
Shearer questions United’s summer recruitment
The former England striker argues United should have done more than focus heavily on rebuilding their midfield. The club spent around £150m on midfield additions but did not strengthen several other areas of the squad.
“I really do think that they didn’t back Carrick as they should have in the summer,” Shearer said. “When you think about what they have spent and wasted over the years for them to only go in and get what they did after what he achieved last season, I do think they haven’t given him the best possible tools going forward this season.”
Alan Shearer also questioned Carrick’s apparent lack of faith in Benjamin Sesko, who has struggled for a regular starting role despite United making a significant investment in the striker.
“They invested heavily in Sesko, as we know and clearly Michael doesn’t fancy him that much because he’s not starting him,” Shearer said.
He believes United’s attacking options remain a concern and has also been critical of their defensive performances.
“There’s been a lot of talk with United strengthening in forward positions last year, strengthening the midfield this year, and perhaps defensively they haven’t, but I’m not convinced they’ve got enough up top anyway,” he added.
Shearer stopped short of suggesting Carrick is solely responsible for the situation. He compared United’s current problems with previous seasons involving interim managers, while arguing that the circumstances this time are somewhat different because of the level of backing Carrick received.
“The problem is that we’ve seen this sort of script before with Manchester United and hiring interim managers. We’ve seen what happens,” he said.
Michael Carrick still needs results
Despite his sympathy for the manager, Shearer insists United cannot continue producing poor performances and collecting limited points.
“I did expect them to go in more and buy more and they should have really as at the start of this season the proof is in the pudding,” he said. “I do have a little bit of sympathy for Carrick.”
However, Shearer acknowledged that Carrick must improve the team once the Premier League resumes.
“Having said that, they have to do better, have to play better and they have to get more points.”
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