Manchester United are preparing to sack Michael Carrick. The international break is used to find a replacement – and everything should be ready before the classic against Liverpool at Anfield.
According to The Athletic, in the middle of the night comes the news that the Old Trafford board and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe consider the situation of the English manager untenable after the 4-4 draw against Aston Villa. The result has taken the team to 18th place in the Premier League and placed them in a direct relegation place.
Earlier on Monday, the BBC and the Manchester Evening News (MEN) reported that United had not made a final decision regarding Carrick. The MEN also reported that United are considering Carrick’s future during the international break, and that a decision is expected to be made this week on whether the club will continue with the Englishman or go for a replacement. But tonight the decision should be made!
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One win in ten games triggers the end
The balance of the Mancunian team has triggered the sporting decision. In the first ten league games, United have only one win – and three wins in all official competitions. In addition to the league collapse, they were knocked out of the League Cup against Brighton.
Despite the board admitting a margin of confidence after the 0-3 loss to Bournemouth last month, the team only added one win against Roma in the Champions League before the loss to Villa. Carrick signed a permanent contract for two seasons in May 2026 after taking over from Rúben Amorim in January. At that time, he scored 39 points in 17 games – a record that put him third in the league after victories over Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool.
Pochettino, Howe and Nagelsmann on the list
While the approval is being processed between Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family to formalize the contract termination, the club’s football commission has launched investigations to find the immediate replacement. Current USA coach Mauricio Pochettino is in first place in the technical secretariat’s preference for a return to English football.
Along with the Spanish-Argentine coach, former Newcastle coach Eddie Howe and former Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann have the support of key members of the management structure.
This will be the fourth change of manager under INEOS, following the earlier departures of Erik ten Hag and Amorim himself – in a context of internal discontent within the squad. Players such as Lisandro Martínez have made the discontent visible due to a lack of planning at left-back and striker.
Ready for Liverpool
United’s representatives and intermediaries appointed by INEOS will speed up contract negotiations over the next seven days of the international break. If the parties agree with their chosen replacement, United will make Carrick’s departure official and present their new manager ahead of the classic against Liverpool at the end of November 2026.
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