Carrick takes training as United weigh Monaco meeting to decide his fate

Michael Carrick took training at Carrington on Tuesday morning even as Manchester United’s hierarchy prepared to meet in Monaco to decide whether to sack him. No formal decision had been made as of Tuesday lunchtime, according to Old Trafford sources, though the 45-year-old’s position is widely considered untenable.

United director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada are due to travel to Monaco to present their views to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose Ineos company controls football operations and would ultimately sanction any managerial change alongside the Glazers. A meeting with Ratcliffe is reportedly scheduled for Wednesday.

The former midfielder’s tenure has been defined by the club’s worst start to a season since 1986, leaving United in the relegation zone — 18th in the Premier League — heading into the international break. United are using the two-week hiatus to review Carrick’s position and assess alternatives.

Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as the leading candidate to succeed him. The former Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager has held talks with United in the past and is understood to be interested in the role, though significant compensation would be required given that he and his staff extended their contracts with the United States national team until 2030 just three months ago. Pochettino is currently in Georgia preparing the US squad for Nations League quarter-final fixtures.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is also admired by the club, while former Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe and ex-Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann were linked when United first seriously considered replacing Carrick a fortnight ago.

Carrick’s position deteriorated sharply after a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como and a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth, though the club opted to give him time to turn things around. A 2-0 defeat at Chelsea — in which Lisandro Martinez was sent off — followed, before a 3-2 Champions League comeback win over Roma briefly offered some relief. A 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, however, has done little to strengthen his case.

Carrick made 464 appearances for Manchester United between 2006 and 2018 and remains a popular figure at the club, but the prolonged uncertainty over his future is understood to be taking its toll as the hierarchy continues to deliberate.