Man United latest: Michael Carrick urged to drop ‘selfish’ star ahead of Roma clash in Champions League
Michael Carrick is clinging onto his job by a thread as he takes charge of Manchester United’s meeting with Roma in the Champions League, desperate for a change of fortunes to save his skin.
United lost again on the weekend as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Chelsea, leaving them 17th in the Premier League, hovering above the relegation zone on goal difference.
After surviving initial club crisis talks at Carrington last week, every game now feels like it could be Carrick’s last unless he can manage to turn the tide, with United winless in nine for the first time in 40 years.
United have just two more games in the docket before the international break - with the visit of Aston Villa following on Sunday - which could bring about judgement day for Carrick.
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Man United vs Roma live updates
Manchester United take on Roma with Michael Carrick on brink | kick-off at 8pm GMT
Carrick winless in nine as United boss after latest defeat at Chelsea
Steven Gerrard questions Lisandro Martinez's 'selfish' red card
Club hierarchy held crisis talks over Carrick's future last week
United's last Champions League outing saw them thrashed by Como
Roma undefeated in flying start to Serie A season
Lisandro Martinez red card was 'selfish' and 'all ego' - Steven Gerrard
Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has said Lisandro Martinez’s red card against Chelsea on Saturday “selfish” and “all ego”.
A positive performance from Michael Carrick’s side was undermined when Martinez received two yellow cards in as many minutes with his side 1-0 down at Stamford Bridge, with the defender also conceding a penalty for his reckless challenge in the box.
“He's cost them points, but he's done it for a manager that's backing him, that's supported him and has really gone out of his way for him,” Gerrard said on The Overlap daily.
“It was selfish. It was all ego, thinking he's all macho. But the disappointing thing for me is he's walking off the pitch shaking his head as if it's the referee's fault, as if he's the victim.”
Asked whether Martinez, who was critical of the United hierarchy last month and is out of contract in the summer, is attempting to engineer a January exit, Gerrard said: “That's possible as well.
“I've seen that happen before, so I wouldn't be surprised by that. It wouldn't surprise me in his world, when he's on his dining table at night with his family and his agents and whoever he spends his time with, that he's thinking, I want out of here sharpish, and probably the best way for me to do that is to cause problems, and that's exactly what he's doing. His performances in the last couple of weeks have been shocking.”
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It’s crunch time – once again – for Manchester United and Michael Carrick as they bid to end their nine-game winless run against Roma in the Champions League. Defeat to Chelsea on Saturday was a third loss in a row in all competitions and Carrick’s job appears to be hanging by a thread as United head into back-to-back home games against Roma and Aston Villa before the international break, with Carrick very much still fighting for his future.
The pressure is on ahead of the arrival of the Italian side, who are unbeaten domestically in Serie A this season.
