Man United Back Michael Carrick as Eddie Howe Stays Waiting

Man United are not planning a change: Carrick safe, Eddie Howe not preparing for return

Manchester United are not currently considering a managerial change. Michael Carrick retains the backing of INEOS despite a slow start, while former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe would only be part of any future discussion, according to The Telegraph. Neither side is moving.

Current manager: Michael Carrick remains in charge and has the support of the dressing room and the football structure
Potential future name: Eddie Howe would be part of the discussion if United ever rethink the role, per The Telegraph
Howe's stance: He has stepped back after leaving Newcastle and is not pushing for a quick return
Club position: No active plan to make a change; INEOS believe the team deserves more time after significant midfield alteration
Market context: Chelsea have appointed Xabi Alonso and Tottenham are backing Roberto De Zerbi, reducing immediate movement at the top
Stakes: United will judge Carrick on results over the coming weeks and months while resisting reaction to every poor spell

Why Carrick is safe for now

There is frustration over results, as there always is at a club of Manchester United's size, but no active plan to change manager. INEOS and the wider football structure are understood to believe the team deserves more time, particularly after significant midfield alteration in the summer.

That point should not be dismissed as a convenient excuse. Rebuilding the centre of a side often changes the whole rhythm of it, from build-up speed to defensive protection and pressing distances. United have made substantial adjustments in that area, and there is a belief that chemistry and clarity still need to develop before a final judgement is made.

There is also another factor often decisive in these moments, the dressing room. The club's reading is that Carrick still has the backing of the majority of the squad. For senior executives, that can buy valuable time. When performances are poor and players have checked out, the risk multiplies quickly. If the players remain engaged, a board is more inclined to stay calm.

That does not remove pressure. Manchester United cannot continue indefinitely with sub-standard outcomes and expect patience to last. But there is a meaningful difference between concern and crisis, and by all indications United still view this as the former rather than the latter.

Eddie Howe's stance: prestige alone is not enough

Howe's stock remains high. His work at Newcastle elevated him into the bracket of English coaches capable of handling a major rebuild, while also delivering on the pitch. Winning silverware and guiding a club into the Champions League on two occasions changed the perception around him from talented organiser to proven elite-level operator.

That profile makes him relevant to any major vacancy in English football. It also explains why his name does not disappear for long whenever one of the country's biggest clubs wobbles. But relevance and readiness are two different things.

The current understanding is that Howe has stepped back after leaving Newcastle and is not pushing for a quick return. The sense around him is that only an exceptional opportunity would alter that timeframe. Manchester United may qualify as a prestigious job in pure scale, but prestige alone does not guarantee alignment, especially when the role is occupied and the project remains live under another coach.

That distinction is important in assessing this situation. If United were actively looking, the conversation might carry more weight. If Howe were waiting for the right opening, it might also feel more immediate. At present, neither side appears to be moving.

Why the noise exceeds the substance

The wider landscape also matters. Several big clubs have only recently committed to new managers, which reduces immediate movement at the top of the market. Chelsea have gone with Xabi Alonso, Tottenham Hotspur are backing Roberto De Zerbi, and United themselves are still in the early stages of Carrick's tenure. That creates a holding pattern across the elite level, even if the scrutiny never stops.

In that environment, Howe becomes less a live candidate and more a standing name on the board. Clubs will think about him because his credentials justify it. Decision-makers keep mental shortlists updated all the time. Yet being on a shortlist and being close to appointment are very different states.

What feels most likely is that United continue to evaluate Carrick on performances over the coming weeks and months, while resisting the temptation to react to every poor spell. That would fit with the current internal line and with the idea that a reworked squad needs time to settle.

If results worsen sharply, the debate will intensify. Should that happen, Howe would almost certainly re-enter the public conversation with greater force. For now, though, the noise exceeds the substance. United are backing their manager, and Howe appears content to wait for a role that genuinely compels him back into the game.

Talking points

INEOS are right to give Carrick time after a summer of midfield surgery, but they must set a clear performance deadline before patience becomes drift.
Howe's reputation is high enough to make him a permanent shortlist name, yet his willingness to wait suggests he will only return for a project with real control.
The dressing room backing is Carrick's strongest shield, but player support can evaporate quickly if results do not improve in the coming weeks.
United's habit of being linked with successors every bad run says more about the club's planning than about the current manager's future.

What happens next

United will continue to assess Carrick over the coming weeks and months, with the club resisting any temptation to react to individual poor results. If the situation worsens sharply, the debate will intensify and Howe would re-enter the conversation with greater force. For now, the focus remains on allowing a reworked midfield to settle.

Frequently asked questions

Is Michael Carrick being replaced as Manchester United manager?

No. According to The Telegraph, Manchester United are not currently at the point of making a change and there is no active plan to replace Carrick.

Is Eddie Howe taking over at Manchester United?

No. Howe has stepped back after leaving Newcastle and is not pushing for a quick return. He would only be part of the discussion if United ever reconsidered the role.