Manchester United has settled on keeping Michael Carrick in charge of the team against Bournemouth on Sunday, despite rising doubts over his future following a stuttering start to the season.
According to The Athletic, the decision does not include a guarantee of the coach’s continuation after the match, as the management continues to evaluate the situation and review available options if the negative run of results extends.
Eddie Howe enjoys appreciation within the club, and some officials see him as the strongest candidate to succeed Carrick, benefiting from his Premier League experience and availability after his stint with Newcastle ended, while Antonio Conte has expressed interest in taking over the job.
On the other hand, Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler is unenthusiastic about moving to Old Trafford at the current stage, despite United officials’ admiration for him, reducing the chances of adding him to the list of quickly viable options.
Carrick’s crisis worsened following a 4-1 defeat to Como in the Champions League, a result that extended United’s winless streak to seven consecutive matches across all competitions.
The team has achieved only two wins in 11 matches this season, while collecting seven points from their opening seven Premier League fixtures, marking their worst start to the competition since 1986.
The picture looks different from the end of last season, when Carrick led the team to third place after Rúben Amorim’s departure, earning a two-year contract, before results declined in his first full season as permanent manager.
A new defeat against Bournemouth could push the management toward more serious discussions regarding a change, especially since the team’s schedule subsequently includes a match against Chelsea, followed by Roma in Europe and Aston Villa, which narrows the margin available to regain balance.
