Michael Carrick On The Brink At Man Utd Amid Club Review
LONDON, Nov 10 (NNN-PA Media/dpa) -- Michael Carrick's days as Manchester United head coach appear to be numbered, with the club reviewing his position and considering alternatives, reported PA Media/dpa.
The Red Devils will spend the international break in the relegation zone after failing to build on August's solitary Premier League win against Ipswich, following Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa.
United languish in 18th place and are reviewing Carrick's position as the club takes stock during the international break, the Press Association understands.
Reports suggest the club intends to replace the former midfielder following talks on Monday, although officials at Old Trafford insisted that no decision had been made by that evening.
United director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada seriously considered sacking Carrick a fortnight ago after a 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth compounded a calamitous 4-1 Champions League loss to Como.
The club eventually decided to give the head coach and his players an opportunity to turn the situation around before the international break.
Carrick's side subsequently lost 2-0 at Chelsea, where they failed to take their chances and saw Lisandro Martinez sent off, before securing a 3-2 comeback win against Roma last Tuesday and drawing 4-4 with Villa on Sunday.
United have been considering whether that run of results is enough to keep Carrick in the job.
However, the head coach has stressed that he has no intention of walking away.
Asked whether the November break had come at a good time for the squad, the under-fire United boss said:“Yeah, it's been a right mixed week or two or three, really, if you're looking at the events.
“But I'm pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there.
“Obviously some of the boys will be flying off around the world and different things, and the group will be split for 10 days or so.
“But as a normal international week is, you know, we'll have some training. We'll have one or two days off, but not too much. But we'll train, and we'll get ready for the next game.”
The final international break of the year would appear to be a logical time for United to make a change, given that there is no free midweek until mid-December after the team return from the break with a trip to rivals Liverpool on Nov 22.
Former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann are among the contenders to replace Carrick if the club decide a change in the Old Trafford hot seat is necessary.
Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea manager, has frequently been linked with the role, with bookmakers having slashed the odds on his appointment.
The former Argentina defender extended his contract as head coach of the United States (US) national team until 2030 just three months ago.
Carrick's future remains uncertain, but the head coach remains steadfast in his belief that he can lead the embattled side up the table, having seen enough positives since the low point of the defeat to Bournemouth.
“Goals change games, and you've got to deal with it, and it's part of something we have to improve on drastically,” Carrick said.
“But there's more than enough. We're just making it too difficult for ourselves at the moment in certain times.”
--NNN-PA MEDIA/dpa
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