Michael Carrick expects to still be in charge of Manchester United after the international break, despite the Red Devils sitting in the Premier League's relegation zone.

United will spend the upcoming hiatus 18th in the table, despite launching two stirring fightbacks to take a point from a chaotic 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday.

The Red Devils trailed 2-0 after just three minutes and 40 seconds – the earliest they have ever trailed by multiple goals in a Premier League game – before roaring back to go into half-time at 2-2.

Villa then hit another quickfire double in the first eight minutes of the second half to again leave United up against it, and they still trailed 4-2 going into the second minute of second-half stoppage time.

However, Patrick Dorgu teed up Joshua Zirkzee to cut the deficit, then headed Bruno Fernandes' 96th-minute corner home to salvage the unlikeliest of points for Carrick's team.

But even with United becoming the first team in Premier League history to fight back from two goals down to equalise on two occasions in a single game, Carrick's future was still a hot topic after full-time.

United had been tipped to make a change in the dugout during the international break, having gone eight league games without a victory for just the second time, previously enduring such a run in April and May 2025 under Ruben Amorim. 

Before facing Liverpool on November 22, United are guaranteed to spend at least 15 consecutive days in the relegation zone, marking their longest run of days in the drop zone since a 28-day period in September and October 1986.

But when asked if he could step away from the Old Trafford hot seat, Carrick told Sky Sports: "It's not going to happen, no."

That was part of a tense exchange with interviewer Patrick Davison, who suggested to Carrick that a change in management was thought to be a possibility.

Carrick replied: "Is there? We understand the situation; we haven't won enough games. 

"But I expect to move forward and keep working on things we've been working on. We showed a lot of good in the game.

"If we tighten up on a few mistakes, we will win football matches."

15 – Manchester United are now guaranteed to spend at least 15 consecutive days in the Premier League relegation zone. It is their longest run of days in the top-flight drop zone since September/October 1986 (28). Dejected. https://t.co/wtpy0nCLOx

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 8, 2026

The last time United were in a lower position at least 10 games into a top-flight season was in 1986-87, when they were 20th at the same stage. 

United's supporters protested against the way the Glazer Family and Ineos are running the club throughout Sunday's game, and forward Matheus Cunha said the fans' frustrations are keenly understood in the dressing room. 

"Before we played, everyone was a fan," Cunha said. "You understand why they are frustrated. This is completely fine; we understand. 

"We are on the pitch, and we need to manage this. We need to change the mentality. I don't think the fans are against us [players]; it's just that they want to see us perform and win games.

"Before anything else, we need to look inside – the players and the staff. It's a huge club, and to feel something like this [being in the relegation zone] is not normal. We need to come back."