Carrick takes training at Carrington as United bosses fly to Monaco to seal his fate

Michael Carrick conducted training at Manchester United’s Carrington base on Tuesday morning while the club’s top executives flew to Monaco to recommend his sacking to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are due to attend a scheduled board meeting with Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday, at which Carrick’s future will be the central item. The pair are understood to have already concluded that a managerial change is necessary, though the decision requires ratification from Ratcliffe and the Glazer family, which could come later this week.

Carrick, 45, arrived at Carrington at 7.15am in his training kit, having taken a scheduled day off on Monday. With much of the first-team squad away on international duty, a number of Under-21 academy players were promoted to make up the numbers for the session.

The head coach had been handed a three-game audition after back-to-back defeats to Como and Bournemouth. United’s record across those matches — one win, one draw, one defeat — was not enough to convince the hierarchy. The manner of the performances proved equally damaging: the side conceded eight goals, came from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2 with two goals in the final seven minutes, and then surrendered a 4-2 lead against Aston Villa at Old Trafford before Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu scored in injury time to salvage a point.

United officials maintain that a final decision has not yet been formally made, but the trajectory is clear. Potential successors have already been assessed, with current United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino identified as the frontrunner. Pochettino holds a release clause in the contract extension he signed with the USMNT following the World Cup. Out-of-work managers Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are also under consideration.