Manchester United manager Michael Carrick future remain uncertain after his team dramatic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday. Di result leave United for relegation zone, 18th place, dia lowest position for 40 years after playing at least 10 matches.
United season don be disaster so far. Dem get only one win in 11 Premier League games, dia worst ever start. Dem don concede 30 goals in all competitions this season, second-most of any team for Europe top five leagues. Since dem beat Ipswich on 30 August, dem never win league game. Dem don concede 15 goals in dia past five games and concede inside two minutes in three of dia past seven matches. For di Villa game, na three minutes and 40 seconds dem trail 2-0, earliest ever for Premier League.
But di players show character. Dem come back from two goals down twice against Villa, and before that dem get comeback win over Roma. Fans boo at some points and cheer at others. Diogo Dalot get rough treatment when dem replace am with Patrick Dorgu for 66th minute. Dorgu later score 96th-minute equaliser to make am 4-4.
Carrick, when Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison ask am about his future, talk say: “That’s not going to happen” when dem ask if he go walk away. When dem suggest say clearly there will be conversations with di hierarchy, him respond: “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.”
Sky Sports News understand say di hierarchy been dey assess Carrick future for several weeks but dem never make decision. Dem try reach di international break to do full reassessment. Carrick still dey vulnerable. Di hierarchy get time now because team no play for two weeks. Ideal scenario for Man Utd bosses na to keep Carrick until end of season. If dem sack am, dem no go appoint another interim, because dem no want enter cycle where interim does well and fans clamour for permanent job. Dem want long-term strategy and long-term head coach.
Potential replacements dey. Mauricio Pochettino, current United States head coach, na di favorite to replace Carrick. Pochettino, wey manage Tottenham and Chelsea for Premier League, sign new contract until 2030 in August, which fit complicate things. Former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann, both free agents, dey among oda managers on United shortlist.
For transfer market, Football Insider report say Man United want sign Nottingham Forest defender Murillo. Di Brazil international, 24, join from Corinthians in 2023 for around €6 million, but him transfer fit worth 10 times that now. United also dey interested in Manchester City left back Rayan Aït-Nouri. Di Red Devils be surprise suitors for di 25-year-old late in summer, and if dem pull off January deal e go be rare cross-city move, one wey no happen directly between di rivals since 2012. United also dey scout Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi, 26, wey get deal until 2028, after attending match between Atalanta and Monza.
Up next for United na trip to Anfield to play rivals Liverpool on 22 November.
