Manchester United's Two Weeks to Forget Leave Carrick's on the Brink
Three defeats in 11 days, a nine-match winless run leaves Michael Carrick under pressure ahead of United's Champions League tie with Roma.
Two Weeks to Forget
The damage began on October 21, when Como 1907 hosted Manchester United in the Champions League and won 4-1. Nico Paz scored twice, at 2' and 57', with Anastasios Douvikas (49') and Jacobo Ramón (76') adding the rest. Zirkzee’s stoppage-time goal was a small consolation on a chastening night against a side few expected to dominate. It set the tone for what followed back at Old Trafford.
Four days later, on October 25, AFC Bournemouth won 3-0 at Old Trafford. Rayan (38') and Marcus Tavernier (43') scored in quick succession before the break, and Evanilson added a third in the 71st minute. United never found their footing, and the defeat left fans asking the same questions they were asking last season.
Six days later, on October 31, United travelled to Stamford Bridge, wounded but with a chance to win their fans back. For the first half, they looked ready to prove everybody wrong. After the break, their defensive problems resurfaced: Morgan Rogers put Chelsea ahead, and Cole Palmer added a penalty to make it 2-0.
The Numbers Behind the Slump
The record is difficult to defend.
A winless run: Nine matches across all competitions, made up of three draws and six defeats, the longest such run since 1988.
League standing: United sit 16th, one point above the relegation zone.
Overall form: United have won just two matches in all competitions, one of them against Sabah on September 10.
The Dressing Room Cracks
After United’s 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid on October 13, Lisandro Martínez criticised the club’s summer recruitment and said he expected more backing from the management. The comments caused a stir inside and outside Old Trafford.
Then, after the 4-1 loss at Como on October 21, Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned the tactics of head coach Michael Carrick. Carrick responded by leaving him on the bench for the Bournemouth game, and Harry Maguire wore the armband.
What Is Going Wrong
The clearest issue is defensive instability. United concede too easily and too often, and they struggle to recover once a game turns against them. Individual errors have been costly: Maguire’s mistake gifted Paz the opening goal at Como, and Lemmen’s error led to Evanilson’s third at Old Trafford. Chelsea was the clearest example of the wider pattern: a promising first half, then a collapse once the pressure built.
Pressure on Carrick
Carrick’s position is now under real strain. Nine games without a win, public disagreements with Martínez and Fernandes, and a defence that unravels when tested have left him with little room to manoeuvre. The next few results will shape his future at the club.
What Comes Next
The Champions League fixture against AS Roma on November 3 cannot be treated as just another game, because it may well decide Carrick’s future. A win would ease the pressure and give the squad and the fans something to hold on to. United need a response, and they need it now.
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