Overview
- Jamie Carragher told fans on Friday that it would be "ludicrous" to dismiss Michael Carrick now and urged the club to allow him to steady the team.
- United have taken only five points from their first five Premier League games and hit a poor run of results that included a controversial derby defeat and a League Cup collapse.
- Carrick was given the permanent head coach role in May after an interim spell that helped United finish third and reach the Champions League.
- Former club figures and pundits have sharply criticised United’s summer recruitment for leaving weaknesses at full-back, centre-back and up front, with some saying the board set Carrick up to fail.
- There is public speculation that INEOS could target elite candidates such as Antonio Conte, Eddie Howe or Fabian Hurzeler in future but there is no confirmed imminent managerial change.