Michael Carrick’s Manchester United return under threat after 10 costly decisions

Michael Carrick’s return to Old Trafford has turned into a nightmare after only 30 days, with Manchester United winning just two of their first seven matches and dropping as many points as their entire total from last season.

According to The Sun, the former United midfielder has made 10 major decisions that have contributed to the club’s poor start and left him facing the possibility of losing his job.

Carrick’s team selection has been a particular concern. Against Hull City, he started 19-year-old Ayden Heaven, who had not appeared in the Premier League since the season began on 22 August, simply because he was the only left-footed defender available in Lisandro Martinez’s absence. Heaven was selected against the physical threat of Ollie McBurnie, while Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot were overlooked.

Despite having three left-wing options, Carrick chose Patrick Dorgu, regarded as the weakest of the trio, to start after completing the entire pre-season. He lasted only 45 minutes.

The decision also forced Matheus Cunha away from the left wing, where he had excelled and scored regularly under Carrick last season, and into the centre-forward role. Bryan Mbeumo was moved in the opposite direction, from striker – where he had scored in every match – to the right wing.

Carrick then persisted with the same starting line-up against Ipswich Town, Everton and Fulham, producing one win, one draw and one defeat. More worryingly, the back four of Dalot, Harry Maguire, Martinez and Luke Shaw was the same defence that conceded four goals against Brentford in August 2022, United’s worst Premier League performance. That unit has conceded five goals in four matches this season.

His in-game decisions have also been questioned. With United leading Everton 1-0, Carrick replaced Marcus Rashford because he “felt something” and brought on Dorgu. The change encouraged Everton to introduce Jack Grealish, who helped them find an equaliser.

After Shaw created the goal scored by Benjamin Sesko in the 88th minute, Carrick removed both full-backs, Shaw and Dalot, replacing them with Leny Yoro and Mazraoui. Yoro narrowed the pitch and allowed Grealish space, while Mazraoui hesitated before intervening, enabling Ainsley Maitland-Niles to score a decisive equaliser in the 95th minute.

Against Manchester City, Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute, giving Carrick 22 minutes to consider a response. Although Sesko was warming up and the Stretford End was chanting his name, he was introduced only 19 minutes into the second half, by which point Erling Haaland had scored the winning goal. Sesko’s arrival pushed Cunha back and moved Bruno Fernandes deeper, taking United’s most dangerous creator further from goal while they were behind. United created no chance until the 95th minute.

Carrick also made eight changes for the cup match against Brighton & Hove Albion and placed a 15-year-old on the bench, despite Brighton having won at Old Trafford in four successive seasons. Starting Yoro and Heaven in front of goalkeeper Karl Darlow proved costly, with the trio involved in all three goals as Brighton became the first side to recover from 2-0 down and win at Old Trafford since Tottenham Hotspur in 1976.

Joshua Zirkzee, who has scored only twice in the league since his two goals in Ruben Amorim’s first victory in December 2024, also featured in three consecutive defeats without making an impact. Everton had contacted him during the summer, when United were prepared to sell, yet Carrick continued to select him rather than find a more creative solution.