Image: REUTERS/Susana Vera
Manchester United's trip to west London to take on Chelsea this weekend could be make or break for Michael Carrick.
The United boss is under huge pressure with the team without a win in their last eight games in all competitions.
The United board held crisis talks on Monday and Tuesday to discuss Carrick's future of the manager, with the decision made that he would be given time to turn the club's fortunes around. How much time is another question, but Carrick will be in the dugout for the game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday lunchtime.
Carrick took training as usual on Tuesday at Carrington, and held his pre-match press conference ahead of the match in west London on Thursday. The former midfielder and players will be given the opportunity to turn things around, with INEOS opting against making an immediate change.
But, if things go south on Saturday, the writing could be on the wall for the former midfielder, as the Red Devils could slip into the Premier League's bottom three.
A number of names have been touted as potential replacements, should Carrick be given the boot, with Antonio Conte, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann all out of work and all chief among them.
Nagelsmann has plenty of admirers within the corridors of Old Trafford and is looking for his next role after leaving his position as Germany head coach following their poor performance at the 2026 World Cup.
Former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, who took over as Nagelsmann's replacement in the German national team, said the 39-year-old was an "exceptional coach", while Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has said that he has been a "talented coach for as long as he's been around".
Key Events Timeline
February 2016 — Hoffenheim promoted Nagelsmann, 28, making him the Bundesliga's youngest ever head coach.
June 2019 — RB Leipzig confirmed Nagelsmann as coach on a four-year deal.
April 2021 — Bayern Munich signed him for a world-record £21m managerial fee.
March 2023 — Bayern sacked Nagelsmann mid-season and appointed Thomas Tuchel immediately.
September 2023 — Germany hired Nagelsmann as national team head coach, succeeding Hansi Flick.
Nagelsmann would have a big job on his hands were he to replace Carrick at the helm and would likely need time to be able to turn thing around, which is something United's managers since Sir Alex Ferguson have not always been afforded.
There are differing opinions within Old Trafford over who the best candidate for the job would be, should Carrick depart. Director of recruitment Christopher Vivell is pushing for Nagelsmann, but sporting director Jason Wilcox would prefer someone with Premier League experience, favouring the likes of Howe, Conte and even Aston Villa boss Unai Emery.
The confusion over who to choose could come back to haunt United if it was to be Nagelsmann that they opted for. That is because United are not the only team interested in the German's services.
Liverpool began the 2025/26 Premier League season as defending champions.
Reports in Bild in Germany have claimed that RB Leipzig are contemplating a move for Nagelsmann, should they sack manager Martin Demichelis.
Leipzig are fifth in the Bundesliga, with four wins and three defeats from their opening five games so far. Demichelis is under pressure and the only name in the frame to replace him, according to Bild, is Nagelsmann.
That means United will have to act quickly, if they are to make their move for the German, or risk missing out on him.
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