Carrick's Manchester United fate starting to echo that of his predecessors

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It's going wrong at Manchester United again

For the third successive year, United have publicly and financially backed a manager over the summer, only for results to fall short of expectations.

Author | Olivia T

Ruben Amorim lasted until January, but the shock League Cup defeat by League Two Grimsby last August and the dismal performance at Brentford less than a month later eroded his safety net. When he subsequently challenged the influence of United's hierarchy, the club's decision-makers had little room to manoeuvre.

United had extensively considered alternatives, including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto de Zerbi, in the summer of 2024 before opting to retain Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman was dismissed in October.

Now the focus is on Carrick.

There were dissenting voices when he was appointed permanently in May, but most supporters felt that 12 wins in 17 games as interim manager and a return to the Champions League after a two-year absence had earned the 45-year-old former United midfielder the opportunity.

As ever, however, results ultimately determine a manager's fate.

There are numerous reasons for United's disappointing form this season, with responsibility extending across several departments and reaching the highest levels of the club.

Yet the brutal reality is that two wins in 11 games, including a run of seven without a victory, is simply unacceptable. It is United's worst sequence since 2015-16, when an eight-game winless run brought Louis van Gaal to the brink of dismissal. As head coach, Carrick must shoulder a significant share of the responsibility.

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