Sheringham warns Carrick that pressure at Manchester United is already 'huge'

Teddy Sheringham has warned that Michael Carrick is already operating under enormous pressure as Manchester United manager, insisting the club’s supporters will not be satisfied with anything less than silverware.

Sheringham, who won the treble with United in 1999, made the comments as Carrick’s side sit 11th in the Premier League after a mixed start to the season — a 2-0 defeat at Hull, a 5-2 home win over Ipswich Town, and a late equaliser conceded against Everton in their most recent outing.

“The pressure is huge at Manchester United,” Sheringham said. “The expectation may not be there right this minute, but within the football club and among the supporters over the years, they won’t be happy with fourth, third, or second.”

Carrick was appointed on a permanent basis after guiding United from 15th place in 2024/25 to a third-place finish last season — a turnaround that secured the club’s return to the Champions League, where they face Sabah FK this week.

Despite that progress, Sheringham believes the goodwill will erode quickly if results do not improve. “Within the club and around it, the pressure is huge, without outside interest playing the part of saying Manchester United are not good enough,” he added. “Anyone within Manchester United who has been involved with Manchester United knows the pressure of what it’s like to play for Manchester United. Everywhere you go, people want to beat you. And Michael knows that — he’s been a player.”

Sheringham also offered a characteristically colourful take on the physical toll management at Old Trafford tends to exact. “It’ll be interesting how long his hair stays nice and dark and flowing on the touch line. That pressure brings the grey hairs or the baldness at some stage for these managers,” he said.

Despite the stark assessment, the 60-year-old expressed genuine faith in Carrick’s ability to meet those demands. “I love his character. I wish him well and I think he will come good,” Sheringham concluded.