Reported by Al Jazeera
Manchester United appeared set to sack Michael Carrick this week, who may have one chance to save his job – at Chelsea.
Who: Chelsea vs Manchester United What: English Premier League Where: Stamford Bridge in London, United Kingdom When: Saturday, October 31 at 12:30pm (12:30 GMT) How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up from 9:30 GMT
With Manchester United fans on standby for news of Michael Carrick’s sacking this week, an unexpected show of patience has given the under-fire boss a new lease of life.
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When Carrick was pictured driving into United’s Carrington training base on Monday – just 24 hours after a miserable 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth – it was widely expected he would be dismissed within hours.
Instead, United’s hierarchy sprang a major surprise by keeping Carrick, for now at least.
Whether Carrick can avoid becoming the third manager to be sacked by United powerbroker Ratcliffe since he purchased a minority stake in the club in 2024 remains in doubt .
United have been in miserable form and sit just one point above the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to fifth-placed Chelsea.
Without a victory in eight games in all competitions – and off to their worst league start in 40 years – United must beat Chelsea to help Carrick stave off the axe.
But with captain Bruno Fernandes dropped last weekend after criticising Carrick’s tactics and defender Lisandro Martinez fined for blasting the club’s transfer policy, Carrick’s side are far from united.
What Carrick called a “pure football” decision to drop Fernandes backfired as United imploded and tumbled to 16th, with the forlorn Portuguese watching from the bench – a defeat that piled more pressure on Carrick, even as fans cheered the manager while booing the squad.
Fernandes was benched after criticising United’s tactics following the 4-1 Champions League thrashing by Como, leaving Carrick facing a dilemma ahead of the Chelsea clash.
Should he continue to sideline his captain or recall his most creative player after United badly missed his influence against Bournemouth? The loss left United with seven points from…