Carrick's United future in doubt after Atlético Madrid expose deep-rooted problems

Manchester United’s wretched start to the season deepened on Tuesday night as they fell 2-0 to Atlético Madrid at the Metropolitano, leaving manager Michael Carrick under severe pressure with Sir Jim Ratcliffe in attendance to witness the latest setback.

United have now won just two of their opening nine games and have gone five without a victory. By the final whistle, the vast majority of the 3,750 travelling supporters had already left the stadium — a telling image for Ratcliffe to carry home.

Carrick had made bold choices in selection. Ayden Heaven, whose previous start at left-back had come for Arsenal Under-23s in Premier League 2 back in November 2024, was handed the role here, while Andrey Santos returned from the cold to partner £70 million signing Carlos Baleba in a remodelled midfield. The plan was to control the game, but it unravelled within 53 seconds.

Two passes were all it took to cut United open. Diogo Dalot was caught on the wrong side of Alex Baena, who raced clear from halfway and slid a clever ball through for Pablo Barrios to finish via a deflection off Heaven. United had barely touched the ball.

To their credit, Carrick’s side responded. Bryan Mbeumo twice found space after incisive moves involving Youri Tielemans, but on both occasions Jan Oblak made the save. The sense that United could level was building — until Leny Yoro was shown a red card that Carrick felt was harsh, effectively ending any realistic hope of a comeback.

Johnny Cardoso then struck on the stroke of half-time to double the lead, a goal that survived a VAR check for handball, and the second half offered United little room to manoeuvre with ten men.

The contrast on the touchline was stark. Carrick, dressed in black, watched proceedings with a hand rarely leaving his chin — composed, measured, but perhaps too detached for a club in crisis. Diego Simeone, meanwhile, conducted the Metropolitano like an orchestra, earning a yellow card for his own furious protests and whipping the crowd to greater volume during the VAR review. Ratcliffe, who has spoken openly about admiring strong, decisive leadership, had a front-row seat for both styles.

Carrick had cited Simeone’s longevity at Atlético earlier in the week as evidence that patience can pay off. The irony of that comparison was not lost on a night when United were outclassed on Simeone’s own ground. With a trip to Leeds to come at the weekend, Carrick needs results — and quickly.