So it’s business as usual for Manchester United and Michael Carrick.
That’s the word from behind the scenes at United, who are keen to reduce the deafening noise around Carrick’s future following a 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth that left most believing he had run out of road.
In the end we would learn on Tuesday that he hasn’t, not yet.
The latest twist means that Carrick and his staff will lead the team out in Saturday’s early kick-off against Chelsea in a last roll of the dice to prove that the backing from supporters can trigger the fresh start he is so badly craving. The fact Carrick was cheered and players were booed after the Bournemouth humbling left a mark on executives during crisis talks on Monday.
A few things need to happen if this stay of execution is to turn into something longer term and become a moment that shifts the rinse and repeat culture that has long plagued United.
Daily Mail Sport picks out three key areas that Carrick must deliver on as soon as possible to ensure this decision is not one that those upstairs come to rue.
Michael Carrick has been given a stay of execution and will lead Man United out against Chelsea on Saturday
1. Win games!
Simply put, Carrick must go down to Chelsea and win this weekend.
After two wins from 12 matches this season – against Azerbaijani side FK Sabah in the Champions League and newly promoted Ipswich Town at home – Carrick doesn’t have time for the slump to continue.
With United floundering in 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone, it is not beyond the realms of possibility that they are in the bottom three by the end of the weekend.
So, yes, to be blunt, Carrick needs to win games and back-to-back victories over Chelsea – who were woeful in losing 2-0 at home to Tottenham last week – and Roma – who are flying high and unbeaten in Serie A – would be the perfect response.
Eight games without a win is United’s worst run since 2015-16. The Como defeat (the worst of the lot thus far) and Bournemouth humiliation have caused monumental damage to the fanbase’s belief.
Performances will be important in the longer term, but it’s wins United need to see now and Carrick simply must get one on Saturday, make no mistake about it.
2. Get Bruno back to his best
United and Carrick are going nowhere in the short term without the buy-in of captain Bruno Fernandes, who is unquestionably their best player.
Sure, he’s been sulking of late, no doubt insulted by the fact he was taken off – unheard of under previous managers – in Como and then an unused sub in the Bournemouth debacle. It was a strong message sent by Carrick.
But points have been scored now on both sides and there appears to be a truce between captain and head coach, who have had a face-to-face meeting at Carrington this week. That was a wise move from all parties, especially Carrick.
Fernandes is the reigning PFA Player of the Year and genuinely world-class when at his very best. He’s been some way below that this season but it was under Carrick in the second half of last season that he thrived.
Hopefully heads have been knocked together, grievances have been aired and Carrick can now focus on getting Fernandes playing at his best. Yes, the Portuguese may stand by everything he said but this is a desperate situation for all and one that only gets better for everybody with the captain taking accountability and then driving the standards, starting at Stamford Bridge.
When Fernandes plays well, so often the result goes United’s way.
3. Fix the defence – and fast!
United are one of only two Premier League teams not to keep a clean sheet this season. They are conceding an alarming number of goals right now.
Four in Como was followed up by three – and it should have been more – against Bournemouth. Of the six away games in all competitions so far this season, they have conceded two or more in four of them. They’ve taken three points from a possible 18, all from draws.
United closed out last season with three successive away clean sheets under Carrick, including a 1-0 win at Chelsea, and they simply have to rediscover solidity and a bit of bite in their defending.
Harry Maguire has spoken about bravery, Lisandro Martinez has spoken about quality. Whatever the problem is – and it is probably a combination of both, and more – United have too many defensive-minded coaches on Carrick’s staff to be this poor in this department.
The defending against Bournemouth felt like it should have had the Benny Hill theme playing over it, so bad were the individual mistakes from Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Senne Lammens.
United’s quality defensively is not at the level of the league’s elite teams but it is considerably better than they have shown so far.
When you’ve got former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard claiming this week that United assistant boss Steve Holland is one of the most impressive coaches he’s ever spent time with, take it at face value.
Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans are there too and know what they are talking about.
This comes down to effort and application. United players have to want to defend and take pride in shutting people out. They haven’t done that to this point but it’s on them to return to the solidity Carrick and his staff instilled at the back end of last season – starting on Saturday.
READ MORE: Man United chiefs are letting another season go to the dogs by not putting Michael Carrick out of his misery, writes IAN HERBERT
