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Manchester United’s management will convene on Wednesday to decide the future of head coach Michael Carrick, with key figures including owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, minority owner Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox taking part in the discussions. Despite Carrick’s precarious position following the team’s drop to 18th place in the Premier League after a dramatic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Ratcliffe continues to back both Berrada and Wilcox amidst growing fan criticism. The meeting, held in Monaco where Ratcliffe is based, was already scheduled and will cover various topics, including Carrick’s future and potential changes to his coaching staff.
Carrick, 45, took over as permanent head coach after impressing in an interim capacity, a decision initially supported by Berrada and Wilcox. However, recent performances have cast doubt on his tenure. BBC Sport has reported that there is increasing anticipation within the club’s hierarchy that a recommendation to relieve Carrick of his duties will be made. Though the Glazer family, majority owners of Manchester United, will be consulted before any final announcement, the outcome of the meeting might not be revealed until Thursday. Should the decision be to part ways with Carrick, the club intends to communicate it to him in person, with Carrick reportedly aware that the team’s poor form has made such discussions unavoidable.
The start to the season has been particularly challenging for Manchester United, marking their worst beginning to a domestic campaign in four decades. Over ten Premier League games, the team has managed just one victory, sitting just one point above the bottom club, Crystal Palace. Defensively, the squad’s weaknesses are evident, having conceded 19 goals — a tally surpassed only by Crystal Palace and Ipswich this season. Despite this, the club’s executives believe there is still potential to secure a top-five finish, reflecting a degree of optimism despite the current struggles.
Looking back on the season’s early days highlights some key factors in the team’s difficulties. Injuries to key players like Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko limited Carrick’s attacking options, forcing tactical adjustments that hampered United’s offensive balance. Former player Jan Aage Fjortoft criticized the team for a lack of passion in their opener against Hull, a claim Carrick dismissed as “ridiculous.” While Bruno Fernandes delivered a standout performance with a hat-trick in a rare victory over Ipswich, his scoring form has since dipped significantly. United’s defensive lapses and fitness issues have also contributed to the downward spiral, exemplified by heavy defeats and late goals conceded in several matches. Internal criticism surfaced as well, with defender Lisandro Martinez publicly questioning the club’s recruitment and placing blame on Wilcox, further underscoring the turmoil within the squad as injuries mounted and consistency evaded the team. With only three wins in all competitions across 15 matches, Carrick’s position appears increasingly untenable as Manchester United faces a critical juncture this season
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