Michael Carrick has insisted he was not surprised to still be in charge of Manchester United for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea, and said he needs no assurances from the club’s hierarchy about his position.
Manchester United head to Stamford Bridge for a 12:30 GMT kick-off on the back of Sunday’s 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth, four days after a 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League.
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The result left the Red Devils 16th in the Premier League, a point above the relegation zone and without a win in eight matches in all competitions, and Carrick was widely expected to lose his job before club officials decided to give him at least one more game.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon, he was asked whether he was surprised to still be in the dugout this weekend. He said:
“No. I’m here to do my job, you know. I’m here to do the best for the team, and I’m desperate to make us better and improve things. So, I’m not surprised, no.”
He then added:
“I said it after the game, I didn’t expect anything [job wise]. I was literally dealing with the performance, the result, what it was.”
Carrick said his mind had been on what the team needed to do to improve rather than on his own future, and that he had not gone looking for reassurance from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada or director of football Jason Wilcox. He also confirmed Bruno Fernandes will return to the starting XI and keep the armband for the clash against Chelsea.
The managers Manchester United have lined up to replace Carrick
BBC Sport reported on Tuesday that the Old Trafford hierarchy had explored replacing Carrick, with former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann under consideration and aware of United’s interest.
Howe, 48, has been out of work since leaving Newcastle in July, after winning the 2025 League Cup. Nagelsmann, 39, left Germany following their exit from the 2026 World Cup, and Antonio Conte, who departed Napoli in June, is also available. Aston Villa’s Unai Emery is admired by the Old Trafford-based club’s board but is under contract until 2029.
Chelsea, fifth in the Premier League table, host the Red Devils at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (October 31) in what might be a make-or-break game for Michael Carrick at Manchester United.
Edited by Vignesh Raja
