Man Utd squad back at Carrington on Tuesday with Michael Carrick's future still undecided
Manchester United's players return to training at Carrington on Tuesday, but it is still uncertain whether Michael Carrick will be in charge. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox held talks at the training base on Monday focused on next steps following Sunday's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
- Return to training: Manchester United first-team squad at Carrington on Tuesday
- Head coach in doubt: Michael Carrick's position unresolved after Sunday's 3-0 loss to Bournemouth
- League position: 16th in the Premier League, seven points from seven games
- Run of form: Eight games without a win across all competitions
- Relegation threat: Just one point above the relegation zone
- Meetings held: CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox met at Carrington on Monday, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe part of the wider hierarchy
The state of the slide at Old Trafford
The Bournemouth defeat capped United's worst-ever start to a Premier League season. Seven points from seven matches leaves them 16th and just one point adrift of the relegation zone — a position almost unthinkable for a club that finished third last term.
Carrick was at Carrington on Monday to watch the club's U21s take on Hull City in a behind-closed-doors game. The first-team players had a scheduled day off, with Berrada and Wilcox using the time to meet and discuss the way forward after the Bournemouth loss.
Sunday's selection raised eyebrows. Carrick dropped captain Bruno Fernandes to the bench after the midfielder questioned his tactics during the 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. It extended United's winless run to eight games across all competitions, turning a bad spell into a genuine crisis.
Why there has been no swift decision
Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett expected the situation to resolve quickly and offered two explanations for the delay. The most likely, he suggested, is that United's bosses are taking their time to identify who they want as a replacement.
Dorsett outlined the worst-case scenario: sacking Carrick and then failing to agree a deal with their preferred candidate, leaving the club in limbo for days or possibly weeks. Clubs routinely try to line up a successor before removing the incumbent.
The second factor is the club's awareness of how popular Carrick remains among the Manchester United support. Dorsett drew a parallel with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2021, who delivered an emotional departure video after his own sacking. The hierarchy, Dorsett believes, wants any exit handled humanely and respectfully to limit supporter backlash.
What was said
"I thought this would happen pretty quickly. The fact it happened makes me think one of two things is going on."
"Probably the most likely is Man Utd's bosses are taking their time to consider who they want as a replacement. The worst-case scenario for Man Utd would be if they sacked Michael Carrick and the person they went for didn't want the job or they couldn't agree a deal with them and they were left in limbo for days, possibly weeks."
"The second thing is they are very conscious - and it was made clear to them at Old Trafford - just how popular Michael Carrick is among the Man Utd support."
"There might not be an exit video from Carrick but they want this done humanely and respectfully. If they don't, the backlash from supporters could be even stronger."
Those quotes frame the dilemma precisely. This is not a club dragging its feet out of indecision alone; it is a club weighing a football decision against a reputational one. United are simultaneously hunting a successor and protecting a manager the fanbase still holds in high regard.
The Solskjaer comparison matters. That departure was painful but ultimately managed with a grace that calmed the terraces. If United mishandle Carrick's exit, the atmosphere around Old Trafford could turn on the board rather than the coach.
The numbers behind the slump
- Seven points from seven Premier League games
- 16th in the Premier League table
- One point above the relegation zone
- Eight games without a win across all competitions
- 12 wins from 17 matches during Carrick's initial caretaker run
- Contracted until 2028 after signing a new deal in May
Why Carrick's credit has run dry so fast
The Michael Carrick story is remarkable for its speed of reversal. Appointed in January 2026 until the end of that season after Ruben Amorim's sacking, he won 12 of 17 matches, secured third place and a Champions League return, and was nominated for Premier League Manager of the Season. A new contract to 2028 followed in May.
That goodwill has evaporated. Eight games without a win and the worst Premier League start in the club's history is a results problem, but the tactical friction with Bruno Fernandes is a dressing-room problem. Benching the captain after he questioned tactics against Como was a show of authority that has not been backed by performances.
Whoever takes charge inherits a squad low on confidence and a team clearly struggling to execute. The returning players on Tuesday will train uncertain of who is leading the session and what system they are preparing for — never a stable environment in a relegation fight.
Talking points
- Should United prioritise a quick clean break over a careful, respectful exit for Carrick given they sit one point above the relegation zone?
- Was dropping captain Bruno Fernandes the decisive misstep, or a necessary response to a player challenging tactics?
- Does the delay reflect sensible succession planning or a board that has not learned from past managerial chaos?
- Would a caretaker be better placed than a new permanent appointment to steady a squad eight games without a win?
What happens next
Training resumes on Tuesday with Carrick's status the central question. The United hierarchy — Berrada, Wilcox and Sir Jim Ratcliffe — must decide whether to back him or begin a succession. Every session and every day without a win raises the stakes, with the squad's confidence and a relegation battle on the line.
Frequently asked questions
Are Man Utd players training on Tuesday?
Yes, Manchester United's first-team players are set to return to training at Carrington on Tuesday after a scheduled day off.
Is Michael Carrick still Man Utd manager?
It is still uncertain whether Carrick will be in charge for training on Tuesday, with the club's hierarchy yet to decide his future.
Where are Man Utd in the Premier League table?
United are 16th with seven points from seven games, just one point above the relegation zone after a 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
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