Carrick sacked by Manchester United six months after permanent appointment

Michael Carrick has been sacked as Manchester United head coach, the club confirmed on Thursday, ending a tenure that lasted fewer than six months since his permanent appointment at Old Trafford.

Carrick’s position had been under intense scrutiny following heavy defeats to Bournemouth and Como, prompting United’s hierarchy to hold crisis talks at Carrington the week after the Bournemouth loss. The club opted to keep him in charge until the November international break, but results failed to stabilise sufficiently. A defeat to Chelsea, a comeback win over Roma, and a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa were not enough to save his job.

In what proved to be his final press conference, Carrick used the occasion to defend full-back Diogo Dalot, who had been jeered by supporters when substituted during the Villa draw. “We’ve got to be careful with that, I think,” Carrick said. “I understand the frustration, I understand the disappointment of the supporters, so I get it. We’re all frustrated, we’re all disappointed, and the players are as much as anyone, I guarantee you that.”

Carrick was unequivocal in his support for the Portuguese defender despite the error that conceded a penalty. “Diogo, he gives absolutely everything. He’s played in different positions, he’s played left-back, he’s played really well at times. He gives a penalty away today. Maybe he can do a little bit better, all right, that’s part of it, he’s made a mistake, but he cares an awful lot and he’s giving everything.”

When pressed on his own future and whether he intended to speak with sporting director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada, Carrick was guarded but acknowledged the scale of the task facing the club. “I’m quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in, and it’s got to win games,” he said. “We’re just making it too difficult for ourselves at the moment in certain times.”

Carrick reflected on a turbulent recent run with characteristic understatement. “It’s been a right mixed week or two or three really if you’re looking at the events, but I’m pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there.”

United now face the task of finding a new head coach during the international break, with the club sitting in a difficult position in the Premier League table following a string of inconsistent results.