Manchester United manager sack news: Michael Carrick’s future at Old Trafford hanging by a thread after Bournemouth loss

Michael Carrick is on the brink of being sacked as Manchester United manager.

The 45-year-old’s future at Old Trafford is hanging by a thread after United slumped to a sixth loss in 12 games this season with a 3-0 thrashing at home to Bournemouth.

The result leaves them just a point above the relegation zone.

The United hierarchy could be about to move for their third manager this year after a miserable day when furious fans unleashed their anger on co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers, Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and the players.

As of 8pm on Sunday (Monday, 7am AEDT), it was understood that no formal decision had been taken on Carrick’s future.

Asked whether he expected to be sacked, Carrick said: “I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything either way. I’m carrying on as normal. I love this place. I’ll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club, and I won’t change that now, whatever decision is made.

“It’s a tough situation; there’s no hiding from it. What it looks like and what’s next I really don’t know. I love what I do, and I feel the responsibility – we’ll have to wait and see. I take responsibility. I respect the position that I’m in, and the responsibility is mine. What else can I say really right now?”

‘Carrick wants to be changed’

Carrick said he had yet to discuss his future with Wilcox or Omar Berrada, the chief executive, who shook his head in disbelief in the directors’ box when Bournemouth scored their second shortly before half-time.

“No, just briefly they came down like they always do after a game, but nothing out of the ordinary,” Carrick said.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both believe Carrick will lose his job. “It’s become untenable,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“Carrick wants to be changed. He doesn’t want to be sat in the dugout with those players. Can you imagine going into the training ground tomorrow with Bruno Fernandes after not bringing him on? He wants to be put out of his misery tonight.”

Neville, the former United captain, added: “It’s going to be ridiculously difficult for Carrick to be Manchester United manager moving forward. Those two [Berrada and Wilcox] are probably going to make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans but is probably necessary. It’s just an absolute mess. The football club is a mess right now.”

Carrick, who had dropped captain Fernandes and refused to bring him on in the wake of the midfielder’s criticism of his tactics after Wednesday’s 4-1 trouncing by Como, was supported throughout the game by United fans in stark contrast to the abuse directed at the ownership, hierarchy and players.

As soon as Carrick had disappeared down the tunnel, the Stretford End – who had targeted the Glazers and Ratcliffe as well as Wilcox – rained down a torrent of boos on the players trailing behind the manager.

Carrick had cut a forlorn figure as he walked around the pitch at the end, applauding the fans who sang his name and, at one point, placing a hand over his heart and banging his chest. But Carrick denied that this was him saying goodbye.

“It wasn’t a farewell from me,” he said. “I probably didn’t really expect that off the supporters, if I’m honest, but I’ve always felt the support and that connection with them. It will take a bit of time to digest, but I certainly appreciate their support. It’s difficult for me to have a day like this at this club and feel the emotion.

“I’m feeling it for my players; they’re going through a tough spell. There’s a lot of emotion in the changing room right now, there’s a lot of the boys quite hurt, to be fair. It’s not like they don’t care or they want to be in this position. The ones I’ve spoken to, it’s affecting them a lot.”

However, Neville blasted the players and suggested they were no longer playing for Carrick. “They’ve downed tools and they’ve done this a number of times,” he said. “They decide when to switch it on and off like a tap.”

Harry Maguire – who was captain in Fernandes’s absence – defended Carrick, despite another risible showing. This was the third 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth in four games at Old Trafford during which time United have conceded 13 goals.

“At the moment we’re not doing enough as players,” Maguire said. “Michael turned our season on its head last year, and we played brilliant football and got brilliant results. This season we haven’t performed well enough as individuals.

“We have got to find something, question yourself, look in the mirror; that’s the most important thing – think what you can do more and contribute to the team and if we do that we’ll get somewhere.”

The Telegraph, London