Business as usual at Carrington, for now
Michael Carrick pulled into Carrington at around 7.45am on Wednesday. Same routine. Same job, at least on paper.
By mid-morning the ground had shifted. According to Sky Sports News, Manchester United are close to agreeing a deal with Mauricio Pochettino to take over as head coach if they decide to dismiss Carrick. Talks are described as advanced. Pochettino is reportedly ready to move should United pull the trigger, which still looks the likely outcome.
There is a price. Pochettino only recently signed a new contract with the United States, and Sky reports it would cost United around £7m to buy him out. The club is not believed to see that as an obstacle.
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The Monaco meeting
The decision sits with a small group, and they are not in Manchester. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox were already scheduled to meet minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in Monaco on Wednesday to review the start of the season. That review has now turned into a verdict on Carrick.
The process is clear. Berrada and Wilcox make a recommendation. Ratcliffe, who controls football operations at Old Trafford, signs off on whatever comes next.
The backdrop is brutal. United sit in the relegation zone after their worst start to a league season in 40 years. Their last outing, a 4-4 draw with Aston Villa rescued late, did little to calm anyone. Roy Keane, never one for diplomacy, said afterwards that Carrick “talks a lot but doesn’t say much”.
A USA game still on the calendar
There is one awkward detail. As things stand, Pochettino is still due to lead the USA against Haiti on Saturday. Whether he is in that dugout, and whether Carrick is still in his, may well be settled before the weekend.
Pochettino and United have circled each other for years without ever landing on the same page. This time the paperwork is reportedly close to done.
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