Michael Carrick set to take charge of Manchester United at Chelsea
Michael Carrick led Manchester United training on Tuesday and is expected to remain in charge for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Chelsea, despite mounting pressure over his position at Old Trafford.
The 45-year-old arrived at Carrington shortly before 8 a.m. as the first-team squad returned from a scheduled day off. He oversaw the 11 a.m. session as preparations began for the Stamford Bridge test.
United’s senior leadership held discussions after Sunday’s 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, with chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox both at the training ground earlier on Tuesday.
Carrick had also attended Carrington on Monday afternoon to watch a behind-closed-doors friendly involving United’s Under-21 side.
United backing before Chelsea test
There was notable support for Carrick from sections of the United crowd during and after the Bournemouth defeat, with much of the supporters’ anger aimed at the players rather than the head coach.
Nevertheless, Carrick is under intense scrutiny after an eight-match winless run. United have managed only one Premier League victory this season, beating promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford in August.
That record leaves them 16th in the table, only one point clear of the relegation zone, after what has been their poorest start to a Premier League campaign.
The club hierarchy have considered potential alternatives, with Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte among the names examined as possible replacements.
What happens next
Carrick now has the Chelsea match to try to change United’s direction before a demanding sequence either side of the November international break.
United host AS Roma and Aston Villa in successive matches next week, then return from the international window with a trip to Liverpool at Anfield on November 22.
