Michael Carrick arrived at Manchester United's training ground at 7:15 a.m. on Tuesday, the same day he could be sacked as manager. Manchester United's hierarchy is reportedly leaning towards appointing a new head coach during the current international break, with Carrick's position becoming increasingly precarious after the team dropped into the relegation zone.
The team's current standing follows a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford on Sunday, which marked United's worst Premier League start in 40 years, equaling the record set when Sir Alex Ferguson took over from Ron Atkinson. Carrick is expected to lead training as usual, albeit with a reduced squad due to international call-ups.
Mauricio Pochettino has emerged as a new frontrunner for the managerial role. The Argentine, currently coaching the US national team, has a reported release clause of £7 million. Other candidates previously considered, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, may also remain in contention. Howe's previous association with Newcastle United meant a potential compensation of around £3 million, while Nagelsmann is available after his tenure with the German national team.
Since a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth last month, Carrick's side lost to Chelsea, secured a comeback victory against Roma in the Champions League, and drew with Aston Villa. Despite the mounting speculation, sources indicate that no final decision has been made, though the expectation at Old Trafford is for a new manager to be in place for the upcoming match against Anfield.
Carrick took over from Ruben Amorim in mid-January and was given a two-year contract in May after guiding United to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification. However, this season has seen a significant downturn, with only two wins in 15 games across all competitions coming against Ipswich Town and Sabah of Azerbaijan.
When asked about resigning after the draw with Villa, Carrick stated, "That's not going to happen. We're in November. I don't like this situation and where we are. But we can do something about it. I'm quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in, and it's got to win games."
Sacking Carrick would mean Manchester United would be searching for their eighth permanent manager since Sir Alex Ferguson retired over 13 years ago. Pochettino has been linked with the job previously, particularly when Erik ten Hag was appointed and later dismissed. His extensive Premier League experience includes spells at Tottenham, Chelsea, and Southampton, as well as with Paris Saint-Germain.