Michael Carrick is set to remain in charge of Manchester United for Sunday’s Premier League match against Bournemouth, but senior figures are concerned about performances and results.

Carrick is said to be carrying on as normal and has not been made aware of any imminent change following Wednesday’s humiliating 4-1 defeat by Italian side Como.

But some at Old Trafford believe the squad should be doing much better, with one source telling BBC Sport: “We need to work hard to get through it.”

Another accepted the level of current injuries “doesn’t help, but no excuse”, claiming effort levels were “concerning”.

“We have a Champions League squad and need to be playing at that level,” the source said.

Despite concern at the performances, some in the United hierachy are of the view chopping and changing mangers so regularly in recent years has failed to arrest United’s decline, and Carrick has been let down by players who are under-performing.

While club sources say Carrick will remain in charge for Sunday’s match, United have already begun the process of identifying possible replacements.

Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann are understood to have their eyes on the Old Trafford job.

After Wednesday’s match – United’s seventh in a row without a win – captain Bruno Fernandes questioned Carrick’s tactics.

The players were given Thursday off but will be back at Carrington on Friday when Carrick will hold his news conference to preview the Bournemouth match at 1330 BST.

While there remains major uncertainty over Carrick future, there is also an appreciation in some quarters of the progress he and his squad made last season, and a view he should be given more time to turn things around.

For weeks, managers – in and out of work – have grown aware the United job may become available.

Howe, for example, is available and would be considered. Sources have indicated the former Newcastle boss is open to returning to management with United after leaving St James’ Park in the close season.

Former Chelsea boss Conte and ex-Germany manager Naglesmann, who are also out of work, are also interested.

Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery and Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler’s stock is high with those in the corridors of power at United – but extracting them from their respective clubs would be difficult.

For the third year in a row, United have publicly and financially backed a manager in the summer, but positive results have not followed.

Ruben Amorim staggered on to January, but the shock League Cup defeat at League Two side Grimsby last August and the awful performance at Brentford less than a month later stripped away his safety net and gave United’s hierarchy nowhere to go when he attacked their influence.

United looked extensively at other candidates, including Thomas Tuchel and Roberto de Zerbi, in the summer of 2024 before deciding to stick with Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman was dismissed in the October.

Now, we have Carrick.

There were dissenting voices when he was appointed on a permanent basis in May, but the majority of supporters felt 12 wins from 17 in interim charge and a place in the Champions League after a two-year absence meant the 45-year-old former United midfielder deserved a crack at the job.

But, as ever, results shape everything.

There are numerous reasons behind the club’s poor form this season and blame can be apportioned across a variety of departments and to the very top of the club.

However, the brutal truth is two wins from 11 games, and none in seven, their worst run since 2015-16 when eight matches without a win took Louis van Gaal to the brink of dismissal, is simply not good enough. And as head coach, Carrick bears significant responsibility for that.

Accusations of a lack of passion, desire and intensity have dogged United all season, having won just two of their matches in all competitions.

The team have also been hampered by injuries and players failing to reach the level anticipated.

While they have struggled in attack, they have also only kept a single clean sheet all season as form, results and confidence have all dipped.

Mixed into that negativity has come explosive post-match comments from experienced defender Lisandro Martinez, attacking the recruitment, and Fernandes, attacking Carrick and his tactics.

In between was the interview in the Athletic with Ten Hag when he spoke of ‘broken promises’ and a ‘toxic culture’. It all smacks of a club lacking control, discipline and a clear forward-looking strategy.

There is certainly a view from senior figures around the club that while overall recruitment can be questioned – specifically strengthening midfield in the summer at the expense of bringing in striking support for Benjamin Sesko or competition at left-back – the players have to take a significant amount of responsibility.

Whether that helps Carrick is another matter.

The proximity of United’s next Premier League game does not make immediate change straightforward, even if that was the thinking.

Following Amorim’s dismissal in January, former United midfielder Darren Fletcher took over as interim manager for two games. Fletcher subsequently returned to his role as Under-18 coach, but two of the coaches who helped him, Jonny Evans and Travis Binnion, stayed with the senior set-up as part of Carrick’s team.

United have a clear midweek coming up following their EFL Cup defeat by Brighton, who came back from two down to win at Old Trafford last month. That, in theory, would allow time to take stock without the immediate pressure a match can bring.

Bournemouth secured their first Premier League win under new boss Marco Rose last week. They drew 4-4 in a memorable encounter at Old Trafford last season, prior to that, they won 3-0 on both of their previous two visits.

It remains to be seen if Carrick will be in charge, and if so, how long after that.

It seems the only certainty around Manchester United just now, is the sense of uncertainty – again.