Carrick clashed with Cunha and Fernandes in final weeks before Man Utd sacking

Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United manager, with the club sitting in the Premier League relegation zone after winning just one of their opening 10 league games this season. His dismissal on Thursday came after days of mounting speculation over his future at Old Trafford.

Carrick’s final weeks in charge were turbulent, marked by flashpoints with two members of his own squad. The first involved striker Matheus Cunha following United’s 3-2 comeback victory over Roma. Cunha had been shown a red card in stoppage time — moments after United had overturned a 2-0 deficit — and attempted to rush onto the pitch to join the celebrations. Carrick physically blocked him and directed him back down the tunnel, later explaining he was trying to prevent further disciplinary action, as regulations prohibit players from entering the field immediately after the final whistle.

The more consequential friction came with club captain Bruno Fernandes. Following a 4-1 Champions League defeat against Como, Fernandes publicly questioned the team’s tactical approach, saying: “Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable. A team that plays through the middle with small connections, if you give them too much time and space then they can hurt you out wide.”

Carrick responded by dropping Fernandes to the bench for the next Premier League fixture, a 3-0 loss at Bournemouth, though he maintained the decision was made on footballing grounds. The pair subsequently held clear-the-air talks.

A dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa in United’s final game before the international break was not enough to lift them above Coventry City or Nottingham Forest in the table, and the result effectively sealed Carrick’s fate.

Carrick had been handed the role on a permanent basis in the summer after guiding United into the Champions League during the second half of last season. This campaign, however, has fallen well short of expectations.

Mauricio Pochettino is widely expected to succeed him at Old Trafford. A broad agreement is reported to have been reached with both Pochettino and the US Soccer Federation, with a £7.5 million release clause in his contract with the United States national team prompting United to move for the Argentine.