The damning evidence that could lead to Man Utd sacking Michael Carrick
Manchester United’s mixed start to the season has led to suggestions that the club could be preparing to look for their fourth manager in less than two years as the pressure begins to pile on Michael Carrick.
Carrick’s side were stunned this week after Brighton’s second half comeback in the Carabao Cup which led to a 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford – the first time in 50 years that United have lost a game after going 2-0 up at home in any competition.
The result leaves United with just two wins in their first six games of the season – at home to newly-promoted Ipswich and Champions League minnows Sabah – and question marks over whether Carrick’s honeymoon period is already over after his fairytale caretaker stint last season.
United lost just twice in 17 games under Carrick after his appointment in January but they have already exceeded that amount this season, having gone from only playing Premier League matches to competing in three competitions so far.
Carrick was appointed on a two-year deal during the summer after leading United to Champions League qualification and the BBC report that there is ‘no sense’ that the club have lost faith with their new head coach yet.
However, results and performances certainly need to improve to avoid the déjà vu of another mid-season managerial change and making Carrick the latest scapegoat of United’s long-term instability.
Why are things not clicking for Michael Carrick and Man Utd?
United went into the season with optimism after their bright end to the previous campaign but the summer proved frustrating as the club failed to shift on a number of fringe players to boost their budget, leaving room to sign just four first team players.
Three of those signings were midfielders yet the most expensive – the €75 million Carlos Baleba – has yet to play due to injury, while the game against Brighton was just the second start for €56m arrival Andrey Santos.
Carrick does not appear to have a rhythm of his strongest team and the unexpected return of Marcus Rashford to the first team has seen the 28-year-old inserted into the side with little effect so far, while last season's joint-top scorer Benjamin Sesko has yet to start in the Premier League.
Arguably United’s biggest problem has been their apparent lack of fitness, with the team ranking in the bottom three for sprints and high-speed runs in the Premier League this season and seeing 13 sides cover more ground than them so far.
Summer signing Youri Tielemans mentioned to Rio Ferdinand during an interview in August that the team had not focused on ‘running’ during pre-season training, much to the United legend’s shock, which has seemingly been justified.
With an underwhelming summer transfer window, a misprepared pre-season and chemistry issues all over the pitch, it is perhaps no wonder that Carrick and United have struggled so far this season.
While the 45-year-old will certainly be given time to exert his influence on the team, Carrick will be all-too-aware of how intense and quickly the pressure can pile at Old Trafford.
However, the onus will also be on the players to prove they are capable of delivering instead of letting yet another manager take the fall for consistent issues that have been apparent under many predecessors.
Ultimately, while Carrick is not blameless for his side’s slow start, the standards have not been set from the top and there needs to be dramatic improvement at all levels to avoid this season fizzling out into yet another underwhelming campaign for United.
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