Manchester United to decide Michael Carrick's fate this week after worst start in 40 years

Manchester United are set to decide this week whether to sack head coach Michael Carrick, with director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada tasked with making a recommendation to the club’s ownership during the international break.

Carrick has presided over United’s worst start to a domestic season in 40 years. Sunday’s 4-4 draw at Old Trafford against Aston Villa — a game in which United twice fought back from two goals down — left the club in the relegation zone, having won just one of their opening ten Premier League fixtures.

The result was the third of three matches United gave Carrick to prove his worth after he was handed a stay of execution during the previous international break. That run — against Chelsea, AS Roma, and Villa — produced one win, one defeat, and one draw, falling well short of the turnaround the club had hoped for.

Both Wilcox and Berrada have themselves faced criticism over United’s poor form this season. Should they recommend Carrick’s dismissal, the club faces an uncertain path to finding a replacement less than six months after appointing him as permanent manager.

Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann have been mentioned as potential candidates, both currently without clubs. Mauricio Pochettino, a long-standing United target, has also been tentatively linked with the vacancy once again.

Carrick, speaking after the Villa draw, dismissed suggestions he might resign. “That’s not going to happen,” he said. When pressed on whether there would be conversations about his future, he replied: “Will there? You’re telling me what you think. I’m quite clear what direction the club needs to go in. It’s got to win games.”