United ended a nine-match winless run with an incredible comeback against Roma in midweek as Carrick continues to fight for his future
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Michael Carrick is looking to keep his job beyond the international break
Michael Carrick is looking to keep his job beyond the international break
Manchester United host Aston Villa in the Premier League as under-fire manager Michael Carrick looks to build on their incredible comeback victory against Roma in midweek and stay in his job beyond the international break.
Carrick’s side ended a nine-match winless run as they came from behind to beat Roma on Tuesday and they now face an Aston Villa team guided by a head coach in Unai Emery who looks set to reject the chance to move to Old Trafford in order to keep developing his new-look squad.
The subject of Carrick’s future continues to dominate United’s last match for two weeks, but The Independent reported that interest in Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, previously the two frontrunners for the job if Carrick is sacked, has cooled significantly.
It means United remain in limbo as they bid to respond to back-to-back Premier League defeats against Emery’s side, who are unbeaten in five games in the division with in-form striker Nicolas Jackson scoring five goals in his last five.
Follow updates from Manchester United v Aston Villa in the Premier League, below
Man United v Aston Villa: Latest Premier League updates
Man United host Aston Villa in final match before international break
Michael Carrick still fighting for his Man United future
But his team ended a nine-match winless run with Roma comeback
Unai Emery set to commit to Aston Villa project
Man Utd interest in Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann cools
17 minutes ago
Man Utd interest in Julian Nagelsmann cools 'significantly'
Julian Nagelsmann’s stock has significantly dropped, meanwhile. While Manchester United’s Christoph Vivell is said to be a fan, others in the hierarchy will be aware that Bayern Munich would not speak highly about his time there. The players didn’t respond well to his approach or personality, and the image persists of Nagelsmann arriving to training on a skateboard. It is hard not to think of a line from The Sopranos. In the same way “a don doesn’t wear shorts”, a Manchester United manager doesn’t have a skateboard.
( Getty )
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer 8 November 2026 12:40
21 minutes ago
Why Man United 'racked by indecision' over Michael Carrick future
Manchester United have been racked by indecision over the future of Michael Carrick. Numerous sources say there is a sense that no one was actually willing to make a call on the manager, a problem compounded by the fact they have “little idea” over a replacement.
In fairness, there are questions and debates over all of the main alternatives. United are understood to be much less sold on Eddie Howe than perception would have it. Sebastian Hoeness is highly rated, but his appointment would still involve a huge Ruben Amorim-like leap from Stuttgart. Fabian Hurzeler might struggle without Brighton’s structure amid higher stakes, and there are doubts over whether United can even afford the compensation. Cesc Fabregas is impressing at Como but isn’t going anywhere for now, and is viewed as Mikel Arteta’s eventual successor at Arsenal.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer8 November 2026 12:35
26 minutes ago
Good afternoon and welcome
Manchester United remain in a ‘will they, won’t they’ situation as they prepare to host Aston Villa in the Premier League and their last match before the international break.
Michael Carrick has so far survived the thrashing at Como, the humiliation at Bournemouth and the unravelling at Chelsea, while finally ending United’s nine-match winless run by beating Roma in the Champions League in midweek.
But will that be enough? Or can Unai Emery’s Aston Villa give United another day to forget and leave the Old Trafford hierarchy with a decision to make over the upcoming fortnight.
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 12:30