Michael Carrick’s position as Manchester United head coach is looking increasingly precarious, and Mauricio Pochettino would be open to a discussion if the club approached him. No final decision has yet been taken on Carrick’s future. It is understood that buying Pochettino out of his contract as USA head coach would cost around £7m.
United chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are scheduled to meet minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday. The pair will discuss the findings of their season review and present their recommendations on Carrick, while also weighing up their options.
Pochettino recently extended his deal with the USA until 2030 and is preparing to face Haiti in the Nations League quarter-finals. United have held discussions with him on at least two previous occasions about the Old Trafford job.
Pressure mounts on Carrick
Carrick arrived at the club’s Carrington training ground on Tuesday morning, as United carry out a full review of their performance so far this season. He had earlier been given a reprieve after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth a fortnight ago, with the hierarchy keen to give him three more matches to turn the team’s fortunes around.
However, the pressure has continued to build after an eighth straight Premier League match without a win. Carrick’s future is now in real doubt before United travel to Anfield to face Liverpool the weekend after next.
The United hierarchy is determined that results must improve, but it wants to be certain of the direction it takes before acting. If it removes Carrick, it wants to avoid appointing an interim head coach, yet no substantive talks have taken place with other potential candidates so far.
The club’s bosses plan to use the international break to evaluate the season fully and reassess their options. Carrick and the players had Monday off after rescuing a late point against Aston Villa on Sunday, and the head coach and his staff returned to Carrington on Tuesday. With most players away on international duty and no first-team training planned in the coming days, the club has gained some breathing space for a full re-evaluation.
The statistics make grim reading. United have won just one of their last 11 games and have conceded 30 goals in all competitions. That is the worst record of any team in the top five European leagues, and it is the worst start to a Premier League season in the club’s history. Those problems have outweighed the positives of the comebacks in the last two matches.
Why United are not rushing a decision
The United hierarchy is thought to feel that Carrick over-achieved last season, when a third-placed league finish earned Champions League football. However, the bosses are equally adamant that the current squad has significantly under-achieved so far this season.
It is understood there are three key reasons why United are not rushing to make a decision, all of which have given Carrick an extended stay of execution.
First, the supporters are not calling for his sacking. Carrick is a legendary figure who won 11 major trophies as a United player, including the Champions League and five Premier League titles, and the fanbase’s affection for him is strong. As a result, the pressure from the stands that often pushes other clubs towards change has not materialised at Old Trafford.
Second, the boardroom believes Carrick and his coaching staff still have the support of the players. Despite the chaotic nature of the last two games, United produced a Champions League win against Roma and a draw against a good Villa side, with notable comebacks in both. The assessment is that the players have not downed tools and are still fighting for Carrick.
Third, United’s bosses are not yet convinced that changing the head coach will solve the team’s problems. If they believed it would, they could already have moved to sack Carrick and appoint a candidate such as Julian Nagelsmann or Eddie Howe. Both are out of work and available, and both are thought to be keen to talk to United if a vacancy arises.
‘It doesn’t matter who’s in charge at Man Utd’
Chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol said:
“The club needs to become Manchester United again. They need to turn into a club who are capable of winning the title regularly, winning the European Cup again.”
“It doesn’t matter who’s in charge, in my opinion. You could have Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. But with the present ownership structure, I don’t think things are going to change.”
“You could bring in another manager but you would just paper over the cracks. We’re talking about a club that used to rub shoulders with Barcelona and Real Madrid. If things carry on as they are at the moment, they’ll be rubbing shoulders with Lincoln and QPR.”
“But I think most Man Utd fans think that unless you change the owners, nothing is going to change.”