Carrick's Manchester United future hangs in balance after crisis talks at Carrington

Michael Carrick’s position as Manchester United head coach remains unresolved after the 45-year-old left Carrington at 5pm on Tuesday following more than three hours at the training ground, with senior club figures holding talks over whether he will continue in the role.

Carrick arrived at 1.50pm to watch the Under-21s face Hull City in a behind-closed-doors fixture, leaving shortly after with his son Jacey, who is part of the club’s academy setup. Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada had both arrived at the premises before 9am, with crisis talks taking place throughout the day.

United’s start to the season has been alarming. They have won just two of their opening 12 league games and are without a victory in eight, a run that has included heavy defeats to Como in the Champions League and a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend. It remains unclear whether Carrick has been formally sacked or whether a decision is still pending.

The mood among supporters at Old Trafford on Saturday offered a complicated picture. Fans sang Carrick’s name during the Bournemouth defeat, while directing abuse at Wilcox and Berrada and booing the players off the pitch — a signal that the frustration runs deeper than the head coach alone.

Speaking after the Bournemouth loss, Carrick acknowledged the gravity of his situation without committing to any expectation about his future. “I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest,” he said. “Carrying on as normal, and I love this place. I’ll always do what I feel is going to be best for the football club, whatever decision is made on anything, really.”

Carrick also accepted personal responsibility for the results. “I take the responsibility. Of course, I take responsibility. Whatever is going to happen results-wise, whether we win, we lose, draw, whatever happens through the whole football club, I’m in this position because I respect the position that I’m in, and the responsibility is mine.”

No official announcement had been made by the club at the time of Carrick’s departure from Carrington.