Carrick keeps Man United job as Fernandes returns as captain for Chelsea

Carrick kept on after eight games without a win

United's hierarchy debated Michael Carrick's future after eight games without a win, a run that included a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como and a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on Sunday, 25 October. The Bournemouth result left the club 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone, and United have won only two of 12 matches in all competitions this season. Chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox first appointed Carrick on an interim basis in January, then gave the 45-year-old a two-year contract as manager. After a meeting of senior leadership figures on Tuesday, 27 October, the club decided to keep him in post for the league trip to Chelsea on Saturday, 31 October.

Carrick said he was not surprised to keep his job and did not expect any assurances from the club.

“I don't need any assurances from anyone.”

Fernandes keeps the captaincy after a public dispute

Bruno Fernandes criticised the tactics after the 4-1 defeat at Como, saying the staff had decided not to press man-to-man. He was then left out of the team for the Bournemouth game, a selection Carrick described as based purely on football reasons. The pair held talks to clear the air, and at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, 29 October, Carrick confirmed that the 32-year-old will return to the starting line-up and captain United against Chelsea. Carrick said Fernandes is fully committed to the club.

“Bruno is fully committed to this football club.”

Fernandes has gone seven games without a goal. Benjamin Sesko remains out long term, while Kobbie Mainoo has returned to training and is back around the group.

Glazers under fire from Gary Neville

Gary Neville used the Stick to Football podcast to say that enough is enough and that the Glazer family should sell the club. He cited £1.2bn of debt at the club, £1.4bn spent on players in the last 15 years and a plan to borrow £2bn for a stadium. The Glazers took control of United in a takeover in 2005 and remain majority owners after selling a minority stake to Jim Ratcliffe in 2024.

Club debt1.2

Spent on players (last 15 years)1.4

Stadium borrowing sought2

Club debt

1.2 £bn

Spent on players (last 15 years)

1.4 £bn

Stadium borrowing sought

2 £bn

Data from the article text

Neville also argued that the football side has failed over 13 or 14 years and that the running of it has been handed to another company, INEOS.

Replacement options and the Chelsea trip

Eddie Howe, previously in charge of Newcastle, and former Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann have been touted as possible replacements, and Antonio Conte has also been named as an option if the club moves on from Carrick. Neville said the club had debated the question back and forth until it got into a muddle, and that keeping Carrick reflected a lack of planning and available options. He added the following about managers in general:

“Sometimes a manager needs sacking for their own good.”

United travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, 31 October, still looking for their first win in eight games.