'He wants to be sacked!: Carrick responds to Man Utd 'farewell' gesture after loss
Michael Carrick has admitted he does not know what his future holds after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth left the Manchester United boss on the brink of losing his job.
Carrick raised eyebrows by dropping Bruno Fernandes for what he described as ‘footballing reasons’ and the captain spent the entire match on the bench as he watched his side extend their winless run to eight games in all competitions.
United are believed to have already begun looking for replacements for Carrick after United’s 4-1 loss to Como in midweek and the 45-year-old was asked whether he was bidding fans farewell after taking time to applaud supporters after the match.
"It wasn't from me,” Carrick told Sky Sports. "I have mixed emotions to have that connection with the supporters in the moment we're in. I need time to digest that. I appreciate their support but the situation is where it's at. We haven't been good enough.
"It's really difficult to have a day like this at this football club and feel the emotion and dynamics of what it was like today. Not for me personally but for Manchester United.”
"It's a tough situation,” he added. “What is next? I don't know. I'll always do what's best for this football club. I don't change that now. I love what I do. I love the responsibility. But we'll have to wait and see.”
Michael Carrick future ‘untenable’ with Man Utd boss on the brink after bad loss
United started with Fernandes and Lisandro Martinez on the bench, both of whom have been publicly critical of the club in recent weeks, while Matheus Cunha was also dropped as Carrick desperately tried to arrest his side’s poor run of form.
However, it was more of the same for United, who sit 16th in the Premier League with just seven points from eight matches and leaving club legend Gary Neville admitting that Carrick’s time would likely be up at Old Trafford.
"It is going to get ridiculously difficult for Michael Carrick to be Manchester United manager moving forward. That's the problem the club have got," Neville said on Sky Sports. "It is horrible to say that.”
"We will have to wait and see"
Michael Carrick gives thoughts about his future at in charge of Manchester United🎙️ https://t.co/hnqYLJnM3u
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 25, 2026
Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, believes that Carrick would prefer to be sacked and ‘put out of his misery tonight’ after the developing situation with Fernandes.
"It's become untenable,” Carragher said. "Carrick wants to be changed. He doesn't want to be sat in the dugout with those players.
"Can you imagine going into the training ground tomorrow with Bruno Fernandes after not bringing him on? It's a rancid dressing room. He wants to be put out of his misery tonight."
