Carrick expected to lead Manchester United against Roma despite poor run
Michael Carrick is expected to remain Manchester United manager for Tuesday’s Champions League match against Roma, despite a 2-0 defeat by Chelsea. United have gone nine games without a win and sit 17th in the Premier League, leaving the club’s leadership under pressure to decide whether Carrick can reverse their poor form.
The club is expected to review his position during the international break, after United host Aston Villa next Sunday. Carrick narrowly avoided dismissal last Monday, when director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada chose to give him more time. Eddie Howe is understood to be Wilcox’s preferred replacement and would cost about £3m in compensation, while recruitment director Christopher Vivell rates former Germany and Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann highly.
In short
- Carrick is set to lead United against Roma on Tuesday.
- United are 17th with seven points after nine games without a win.
- His future is expected to be reviewed during the international break.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Keeping Carrick through the Roma match and until the international break could give United a measured chance to assess his response across the next fixtures, rather than make a rushed decision after one defeat. A change carries costs and uncertainty, and a short extension may preserve stability while the club weighs its longer-term options.
The case against
Nine games without a win and 17th place suggest the decline is serious, and delaying action could further damage United’s season. Replacing Carrick sooner might give a new manager more time to steady the team, while the club’s identified candidates offer alternatives if leadership believes the current approach is not working.
Explained simply
Manchester United are one of England’s most prominent football clubs, competing in the Premier League and the Champions League, Europe’s leading club competition. A manager is responsible for choosing the team and directing its play, while senior club executives oversee decisions such as whether to keep or replace them.
Michael Carrick is a former United player who has managed the team during a difficult spell. Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and chief executive Omar Berrada are among the club leaders involved in decisions about the manager; Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are coaches linked with the role.
United’s results matter to the club’s standing in domestic and European football, as well as its prospects of qualifying for future competitions. Replacing a manager can bring a new approach, but it also involves costs and uncertainty about how quickly the team’s performance might improve.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Michael Carrick to stay in charge of Manchester United for Roma game”.