Michael Carrick Manchester United future
Michael Carrick Manchester United future
Manchester United bosses were locked in crisis talks at Carrington on Monday over Michael Carrick’s future as he fights to keep his job as head coach, British media reported.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox arrived at the training ground in the morning while Carrick was pictured driving into Carrington late in the afternoon. The players were on a planned day off after Sunday’s 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford.
They are expected to hold conference calls with co-chairmen Joel and Avram Glazer, and minority owner Jim Ratcliffe to decide Carrick’s fate.
Carrick’s job is hanging by a thread after United suffered their sixth defeat in 12 games this season against Bournemouth on Sunday. A visibly emotional head coach appeared to say farewell to the fans, although he later insisted that was not the case.
He also revealed that he had not spoken to Berrada or Wilcox about his future, although it’s understood that discussions have been taking place over the growing crisis among the United hierarchy before Sunday’s defeat.
Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann, both currently out of work, are in pole position to replace Carrick on being sacked.
Carrick, the former United midfielder, has 18 months left on the two-year contract he signed in May after guiding the club back into the Champions League. United will be in action again when they meet Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Carrick’s decision to drop captain Bruno Fernandes for Sunday’s defeat to Bournemouth followed the Portugal midfielder’s criticism after Wednesday’s 1-4 loss at Como in the Champions League.
Fernandes was seen shaking his head as he walked around the pitch in Como after being substituted in the second half, with United trailing 3-0 at the time. Following the defeat, Fernandes aired his views in a post-match interview, in which he criticised the choice of tactics.
Carrick said the decision to drop the Portuguese playmaker was purely based on football reasons. Clearly Carrick disagreed with his captain’s comments on the lack of pressing in the Champions League fixture. It was somewhat telling that Lisandro Martínez kept his place despite pointing out the director of football, Jason Wilcox, was a hindrance to the club the previous week.
‘Dead man walking’
After Sunday’s defeat to Bournemouth, Gary Neville suggested that Carrick’s time as United manager could already be done and dusted, saying the feeling is that he was already a “dead man walking”.
“They’re probably going to sack Carrick in the next two, 12, 24 hours. There were rumours on Thursday and Friday about Willcox being torn over whether the replacement will be Howe or Naglesmann and Carrick is a dead man walking already.
“When he comes into his presser on Friday and starts speaking about the club’s history, it just feels like the end.”
Neville also questioned why Carrick felt the need to remind players of the club’s history and the standards expected of them. “Don’t sign a player for this club if you have to explain to them how big it is. They should be privileged to be out there,” Carrick said.
The former United defender also argued that the supporters’ anger is not simply about the results, but also the decisions being made behind the scenes.
“The history is why the fans are here,” Neville added. “That’s why they’re angry because they can’t accept the decision making, from season tickets to lack of recruitment.”
Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow on Monday.
Rahul Gandhi in Lucknow on Monday.