Michael Carrick has been given the chance to turn Manchester United's form around - a shock decision that has divided supporters and Sky Sports pundits.

The under-pressure United head coach was thought to be on the brink after Sunday's crushing 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, but he will be in charge on Saturday as they travel to Chelsea in the Premier League.

United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, and chief executive, Omar Berrada, were at Carrington discussing Carrick's future on Monday and it is understood they had already been considering alternatives for the head coach role.

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For now, Carrick will remain in charge, and here are the key questions around the decision...

A final chance for Carrick or a stay of execution?

Sky Sports News' Rob Dorsett: I feel it's a stay of execution. Carrick has handled himself incredibly well, but the bottom line is Manchester United have got no wins in eight.

It feels to me more like Manchester United haven't sorted out a replacement yet than this being a vote of confidence for Carrick.

It's an incredibly difficult situation for him to try to bring unity to that dressing room right now and get a result against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. If he doesn't get a result, then we'll be having exactly the same conversations again.

Sky Sports News' Kaveh Solhekol: I think it's the right decision. You have to give a manager time.

Manchester United's problems won't be solved in a matter of months. It's going to be something that will probably take three, four, five years.

Carrick needs to be backed. This sends a strong message to the dressing room, to all those players who have stepped out of line over the past few days and weeks, that Carrick is the boss. He's in charge.

But unless results change, he'll be under more pressure again, especially during the next international break.

Sky Sports' Alan Smith: It's probably a stay of execution. Maybe they want to put the successor in permanently rather than having a hiatus in between. If they're talking to a potential successor, they might not be able to take over straight away.

The silence from the top on supporting Carrick has been deafening. What does this do for his authority in the dressing room? All the lads in there will know the gaffer is probably on his way out.

With all due respect to Carrick, that team can be led more effectively. You only have to look at Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham to see what a top coach can do to a group of players.

The right coach coming in can improve things no matter what's going on above them.

What about Man Utd's manager search?

Rob Dorsett: I think they've delayed a decision on Carrick because it's clear Manchester United's bosses are still considering options elsewhere.

They're still, if not talking to candidates, then considering them and that's what any football club would do. This might not be the end game for Carrick today, but it just feels like he's in a very difficult situation going forward from here, and I don't know how he does turn it around.

It feels like something's dragging on here and it's down to the players now. If those players who did so well last season can deliver and show they're behind the manager, that's the only thing I think can change the United bosses' perspective right now.

Has fan support saved Carrick?

Kaveh Solhekol: It's obvious United fans aren't blaming Carrick for what is going on. That said, he has to accept his fair share of the blame, and I'm sure he does.

I think the chief executive, the director of football, and the co-owners know that chopping and changing managers isn't the way to go. They know that you have to back the manager and this is a manager who got a new contract just a matter of months ago.

The start to this season could have been a lot better, but it's not a situation where all hope is lost. The goal is to finish in the top five and I think this squad of players with Michael Carrick in charge can still do that.

What does Carrick do with Fernandes?

Rob Dorsett: It will depend on the attitude of Fernandes. If he's apologised to Carrick, if he's made strides behind the scenes to try and build bridges, I think Carrick will welcome him back into the fold and they'll move on.

If that hasn't happened, I think Carrick's in an invidious position. If he does include Fernandes against Chelsea, he'll be accused of being weak and he made a token gesture by dropping him against Bournemouth.

If he leaves him out and United get beaten again, he'll be criticised for leaving his best player out.

Alan Smith: When you've just lost 3-0, you would suspect that he's brought back in. It would have been better for Carrick if he'd left him out of the squad altogether, so it wouldn't have been an even bigger story.

If he puts him back in, his teammates might think Carrick's been weak. It's a no-win situation unless United win there.

The big question is: how much do the players want to turn it around for their manager? If there's a huge disconnect, do the players want to try and run more than they have been? We'll see that in the first 15 minutes at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

What if Man Utd beat Chelsea?

Rob Dorsett: In the short term, it would be enough for him to keep his job, but longer-term, there are still doubts. Even if he got a result against Chelsea, it may just delay the inevitable.

Your views!

Jimbo: The correct decision. To remove Carrick would have been another win for player power.

Blev: If I was Carrick, I would resign and leave on my terms rather than get dragged through the mud. It's inevitable what's going to happen.

Ady: Baffling decision. Carrick looked utterly lost during and after the Bournemouth defeat.

David: Booing the players and cheering Carrick on the weekend has caused a big issue and led to him retaining his position.

Gareth: So when Chelsea win 4-0 on Saturday then they will sack him. Just do it now.

Luke: Let's be honest, if we were sitting here today and Carrick had been booed at Old Trafford, he'd be gone.

Baz: This is the United board's panic situation but the players don't believe in him and it's a bad move to keep him at the helm.