Gone before the winter
He waved at the cameras on his way into Carrington this morning. A few hours later, Michael Carrick was no longer Manchester United’s head coach.
The club confirmed the decision on Thursday, saying it had come to “the extremely difficult conclusion that a change is necessary” to meet its ambitions. The numbers left little room for anything else. One win from ten Premier League games. A place in the relegation zone. The worst start United have ever made to a Premier League campaign.
Carrick signed a contract running to 2028 on May 22. He lasted less than six months of it.
no renewal
Free for 2 weeks.
Pochettino already lined up
United want a permanent successor “as quickly as possible”, and they already know who it is. The club has a verbal agreement with Mauricio Pochettino, currently in charge of the USA. According to Sky Sports News, the Argentine has a £7m release clause in his new federation contract, and talks with US Soccer are expected to speed up in the coming days.
The likely plan keeps Pochettino with the USA for their two Nations League games against Haiti, on Saturday and Wednesday, before he starts work in Manchester next Thursday. He would be the eighth permanent appointment since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. United had looked at him three times before.
The decision was ratified by Sir Jim Ratcliffe at a summit in Monaco, on the recommendation of chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox. Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate, part of Carrick’s staff, are also expected to leave.
From third place to the drop zone
The fall has been steep. Carrick took over in January after Ruben Amorim’s sacking, won 12 of his 17 matches and dragged United to third place and back into the Champions League. He was shortlisted for Manager of the Season.
This term he has won three of 15 in all competitions. Late comebacks against Roma in the Champions League and Aston Villa on Sunday, a 4-4 draw after trailing 2-0 inside four minutes, bought sympathy but not time.
Gary Neville was blunt on NBC: changing the manager has not worked for 12 years, and it will not work while recruitment and leadership stay weak.
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