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The pressure has been mounting on Manchester United manager Michael Carrick but Express Sport readers think the club have done the right thing by keeping the faith. United have won just twice in all competitions this season, with last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth leaving them only one point above the relegation zone. Things aren’t getting easier, either, with Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool awaiting in the next three league games.
A run of two draws and three defeats since the international break left some fearing Carrick wouldn’t last the week. However, he has been given time to turn things around for the time being. The former England midfielder has also held clear-the-air talks with Bruno Fernandes after United’s captain was dropped after his spicy comments in the aftermath of a 4-1 Champions League embarrassment at Como.
"I totally understand the situation,” Carrick said when asked after the Bournemouth defeat whether he expected to be sacked. “I’m not expecting anything in particular to be honest, I’m carrying on as normal.
“I love this place and I’ll always do what I feel is going to be best for the football club, whatever decision is made on anything, really. That’s kind of it, I’m not expecting either way."
Carrick may well get a response from his players on Saturday against a Chelsea team in the midst of their own struggles. Still, there’s at least one group who have the manager’s back.
A huge 69 per cent of Express Sport readers who responded to our latest poll believe United have not made a mistake by backing the boss. For some, the argument for giving Carrick a stay of execution might well come down to his achievements last term.
The Red Devils were as impressive during Carrick’s interim spell as they have been underwhelming since he was given the gig permanently. He took over a team sat seventh in the table and coming off one win in six matches but led them to victory in each of his first four outings.
The 31 per cent who think Carrick should be gone might share the opinion aired by Lisandro Martinez after the recent Champions League reverse against Atletico Madrid. "He does his best but every season is different. You can't stay with what you did last season,” the defender said of the boss.
"The teams know how you play, they know every detail. If you don't change, next season is a big problem."
Saturday’s trip to West London will offer United and their manager a chance to prove themselves - and our readers - right. Xabi Alonso’s side are coming off a pair of disappointing results themselves, a league loss at home to Tottenham and a Carabao Cup elimination on penalties at the hands of Liverpool.
Still, the Blues find themselves in a position which benefited Carrick last term, with no European commitments to distract from the goal of finishing as high as possible in the league. Alonso will want to get his own team back on track, though United’s early cup elimination means this is a rare example of a week where the visitors are the ones who go into the game with more rest.
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