Carrick on the brink as Howe and Nagelsmann shortlisted after United's 2-0 loss at Chelsea

Michael Carrick is on the verge of losing his job as Manchester United manager after a 2-0 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge extended the club’s winless run to nine games across all competitions.

The result piled further pressure on the 45-year-old, who had been given a stay of execution following last Sunday’s 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, the Glazer family, chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox had already held a lengthy conference call on Monday to discuss Carrick’s future before the Chelsea fixture.

United showed promise in the first half at Stamford Bridge, with Matheus Cunha seeing an effort ruled out for offside, but they were unable to convert their chances. The game turned decisively when Lisandro Martinez was sent off in the second half, picking up two yellow cards within one minute and 22 seconds after jumping into Wesley Fofana. Cole Palmer converted the resulting penalty to double Chelsea’s lead and seal the points.

Martinez had already drawn attention earlier in the week after appearing to take aim at the club’s ownership following United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

With Carrick’s position now looking untenable, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have emerged as the two primary candidates to take charge. Howe has been without a club since departing Newcastle United in July, and reports suggest United would need to pay around £3 million in compensation as part of the terms of his exit from St James’ Park.

Nagelsmann, meanwhile, has been out of management since leaving his role as Germany head coach following their shock defeat to Paraguay at the international level. The former RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich manager is understood to be the preferred choice of United’s head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell.

Despite the result, United’s travelling supporters chanted Carrick’s name as he walked over to applaud them after the final whistle. The reaction to the players was more divided, with some fans applauding while others made their frustration clear.