Manchester United sack Michael Carrick with Mauricio Pochettino set to take over

Manchester United have sacked Michael Carrick after a decisive meeting between senior club figures, with Mauricio Pochettino now expected to be confirmed as his replacement.

The decision was taken following a crunch gathering in Monaco on Wednesday, where chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox recommended to Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazer family that Carrick be dismissed. United are now in formal contact with the United States national team over releasing Pochettino from his duties.

Carrick had been given three matches to save his job after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. A late comeback victory against Roma and a stoppage-time draw against Aston Villa — secured through goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu — proved insufficient. United sit 18th in the Premier League with just eight points from ten games, their sole league win leaving them in the relegation zone.

Pochettino’s arrival may not come immediately. The Argentine is expected to oversee the USMNT’s two fixtures against Haiti during the international break, potentially leaving him little time to prepare for an opening fixture against Liverpool.

Despite the pressure on Carrick, United’s fanbase had largely directed their frustration at the club’s ownership and leadership. Gary Neville said on Sunday that the back four would “get them relegated” and that the “problem is with the ownership.” Berrada and Wilcox have faced particular scrutiny for their summer recruitment, with United spending their entire £155 million transfer budget on midfield — signing Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba — while leaving the squad short at left-back and thin in central defence.

Senior figures have privately acknowledged they got the summer wrong, having pulled out of moves for targets including Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. Diogo Dalot, primarily a right-back, has been forced to cover at left-back and was booed off by supporters at the weekend, underlining the structural problems Pochettino will inherit.