21 Sept 2026 10:01 BST |
4 min read
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Michael Carrick is now under immense pressure following Manchester United’s late 1-1 draw against Fulham on Sunday afternoon and exit rumours are beginning to grow following a poor start to the new season.
The Red Devils snatched a point at Craven Cottage thanks to an 89th minute deflected effort by Matheus Cunha, with the result leaving Carrick’s side in 12th place in the Premier League table ahead of the September international break.
Man Utd have only won one of their five league fixtures so far this term – against newly-promoted Ipswich Town – and after failing to beat 10-man Manchester City in the derby last weekend, they were on the cusp of back-to-back defeats before Cunha’s late effort.
Carrick oversaw a major transformation following his interim appointment last season, but rumours of a possible sacking have intensified amid their current run of results and he will be required to turn the club’s fortunes around following the resumption of the Premier League season after the international break.
However, former Arsenal forward Perry Groves believes that Carrick is likely to be sacked before the end of the calendar year if Man Utd’s current woes continue.
Michael Carrick sack verdict
“I’m looking at this and I said Man United are a half-and-half team,” Groves told talkSPORT while on co-commentary duty.
“When they close down, they do it half-heartedly. When they drop deep, they don’t close the ball down when it’s in their own final third.
“I can’t see Michael Carrick lasting half the season.”
Groves continued: “They had a bit of urgency when they were 1-0 down, but it’s a different scenario.
“When you’re one or 2-0 down, it’s easier because the opposition sits deeper, so you then think you’ll take chances. They should be doing that before they go 1-0 down in the 63rd minute.
“From a player’s point of view, I think they’re nice to play against,” he added.
“I don’t think they really test you. We’ve seen it in the first half where Fulham played through them fairly easily. There was a period of 20 minutes in that first half where every time Fulham went forward, they looked like they were going to score.
“If Gonzalo Garcia had his boots on the right feet in the first half, this could have been a lot worse.
“I just think Manchester United have got away with it.”
Eddie Howe is the bookies’ favourite to replace Carrick in the Old Trafford dugout if the Man Utd hierarchy opt for a managerial change, while out-of-work duo Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte are also strong options for the Red Devils.
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