Michael Carrick is set to remain in charge of Manchester United for Sunday’s game with Bournemouth.
There has been an element of uncertainty around his position following last night’s Champions League thumping by Como but United confirmed this afternoon that Carrick will speak to the media on Friday at 1.30pm at his usual pre-match press conference.
If United were thinking of a change prior to the weekend, it is highly unlikely the former Middlesbrough boss would be put up to speak.
Carrick has presided over United’s worst league start in 40 years with his side winning just one of their opening seven games. And his position was weakened further after the Como game with captain Bruno Fernandes questioning his tactics.
Fernandes told TNT Sports: “It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence.”
Asked whether Carrick got his tactics wrong, Fernandes added: “That’s on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable.”
Carrick was uncharacteristically blunt when asked later about Fernandes’ remarks, saying: “There’s a little bit of whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run, and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you aren’t going to win.”
Sympathy for Carrick from United board
There is reportedly an element of sympathy for Carrick’s position among the United hierarchy although the BBC today suggested replacements are already being identified.
The problem is the potential successors are not particularly inspiring while the United board also accept their role in what was an underwhelming summer window which left the squad with just one specialist left-back and no back-up for number nine Benjamin Sesko.
Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann are all out of work and would jump at the chance of taking over at Old Trafford. Other potential targets, Unai Emery and Fabian Hurzeler are under contract at Aston Villa and Brighton respectively, and it would require significant compensation to lure them away.
United have a nasty run of fixtures coming up, starting this weekend against a Bournemouth side whose athleticism could cause Carrick’s men problems. Their league fixtures after that are against Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
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