Michael Carrick was careful not to get carried away after Manchester United‘s dramatic Champions League comeback against Roma. It was only one win, he said, after nine games without one.
But while he danced around the words “turning point” in his postmatch interviews, he will know extremely well that one is coming soon. Either his team will turn a corner and start winning games consistently, or there will be a change in the dugout.
As one United source told ESPN last week, there has to be “a break” in the cycle somewhere. The point is that what’s happening at Old Trafford cannot — and will not — be allowed to go on indefinitely.
One way or the other, there’s going to be a change.
The next juncture is the visit of Aston Villa on Sunday. Win, and there will be a renewed sense that maybe United are building toward a run of form. Lose, and any momentum generated by the win over the Roma will be stopped dead and it will be back to square one. It’s even conceivable that if Villa win at Old Trafford and other results go a certain way, United could be bottom of the table by Sunday night. With a two-week international break to follow, it will give the hierarchy a decision to make ahead of the trip to Liverpool on Nov. 22.
Carrick was backed by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox after the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth on Oct. 25. Fan support for Carrick after the final whistle — coupled with the anger they directed at the players — was key to their decision. It was viewed as an opportunity to remind the squad, many of whom the board believe have underperformed this season, that they cannot always hide behind the manager. The messaging afterward was that it’s as much the responsibility of the players to turn things around as it is on Carrick.
While that was a significant moment, there’s a general acceptance that ultimately, you can’t change an entire squad. At some point, hiring a new coach is the only viable option.
United feel prepared if they have to let Carrick go. Club bosses did their due diligence on a number of candidates before handing Carrick a two-year contract in May, and they also have updated files on coaches interviewed in the summer of 2024 before the decision to retain Erik ten Hag.
Their preference is to keep Carrick, and so far, United have stopped short of making direct contact with potential successors. Yet it hasn’t stopped contingencies from being discussed in case results don’t pick up.
The first thing the board want to see is the energy and intensity on display in the second half against Roma replicated against Villa. According to sources, club bosses have been “wrestling” with the causes for the dip in form this season. Carrick won 12 of 17 games between January and May. His record since is 3-14.
Many fans blame what they consider to be a failed summer transfer window. Carrick, Wilcox and Berrada all wanted to bring more players through the door, but limited funds had to be managed carefully. The initial summer budget of around £120 million was stretched to £155m to sign Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba. The club recognised that the deadline passed with some weaknesses not addressed, but there was a lack of cash available to do everything the recruitment team wanted.
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In September, United announced an overall loss of £43m. Berrada said in the same statement that the summer transfer strategy had “financial sustainability in mind” and with money troubles affecting the ability to recruit, plans to build a new 100,000-seater stadium have become more contentious. Amid barbs aimed at majority owners the Glazers, Ratcliffe and Wilcox over the last few weeks, fans have also chanted “you can stick your f—ing stadium up your arse.”
Over the summer, £63.5m was used to buy land needed for the project. The question many supporters have is whether that money would have been better spent on a left back, centre back or striker.
The view internally is that the proposed new stadium represents an important lifeline. Revenues will not jump on their own and so, with debt mounting and little evidence that the Glazers are ready to sell the club, getting more fans through the door is one of the ways to help solve the money worries. It is, though, a long-term solution at a time when there are considerable short-term problems. The most pressing issue is the form of the team, the spectre of an unthinkable relegation and whether Carrick is the right man to get United out of their slump.
Managers are fond of saying that the most important fixture is the next one, and it rings especially true for the former England midfielder as he prepares his players to face Villa.
A turning point is coming one way or the other. The result at Old Trafford on Sunday might reveal if Carrick will be around to see it.
