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Gary Neville: 'Really surprised' but 'happy' Michael Carrick set to continue as Man United boss

Michael Carrick faces a tough ask to get Manchester United's misfiring players to turn his team's fortunes around, according to former club captain Gary Neville.

Carrick had arrived at Carrington early on Tuesday morning with his future still up in the air after a 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday left his side 16th in the table.

Sources told ESPN Carrick took training as normal and now expects to be in charge against Chelsea on Saturday.

Carrick guided United into third place last season, having come in on a short-term contract following the departure of Ruben Amorim before being handed a two-year deal to stay in charge.

Michael Carrick is set to take charge of United against Chelsea this weekend, sources told ESPN. (Photo by Nderim Kaceli/BSR Agency/Getty Images)

United have won just two of their 12 matches in all competitions this term, and slipped to a chastening 4-1 defeat at Como in the Champions League before being beaten by Bournemouth.

Neville -- who played alongside Carrick under Sir Alex Ferguson at United -- said he feels for his former teammate, but that he believes there is no quick fix ahead.

"I am surprised, but I am happy because I was absolutely certain that what I witnessed on Sunday would be the end of Michael," Neville said on Sky Sports.

"It looked like he was walking round at the end on his own with the players behind him, like it was almost a goodbye lap, he is waving to the fans to say in almost an apologetic manner, but also a goodbye, so I am really surprised that ultimately Michael is still in a job.

"I am happy with it because the fact of the matter is it was very difficult on Sunday. How it is going to go over the next couple of weeks, I have no idea.

"But I hope he can get somehow those players to start playing for him again because they haven't played for him in the last few weeks."

- Ogden: Man United tight-lipped with Carrick back at Carrington on Tuesday
- Sources: United consider Howe, Nagelsmann to replace under-fire Carrick
- Harry Maguire: Man United players are 'fully behind' Michael Carrick

Meanwhile, former United winger Ashley Young said the club could struggle to attract a top-level replacement should they eventually move on from Carrick.

He said on the Overlap Daily: "For me, the players need to be better, but how many different windows are you going to need to get those players in?

"What manager is going to come in and say, 'I want to work with this squad'? For me, the best manager in the world, Luis Enrique, would look at Manchester United now, look at that squad and say, 'I'm not touching that. I'm not going there'.

"Most managers in the world have seen Manchester United as one of the biggest clubs in the world for years, and at the drop of a hat would have gone to be the manager. Now, I don't believe that's the way."

Information from ESPN's Mark Ogden, Rob Dawson and the Press Association contributed to this report.

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