Michael Carrick arrived at Manchester United’s training ground this morning for possibly the final time.
Carrick was pictured driving into the facility at around 7.15am and is expected to take a training session with the players not away on international duty.
While he is doing that, conversations are continuing in the background with United CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox set to speak to the club’s minority owner Jim Ratcliffe regarding Carrick’s future.
The club briefed last night that the former England midfielder was on the brink but that no firm decision had been made. That is expected to come today from Ratcliffe, whose INEOS group oversee football operations at Old Trafford.
Ratcliffe is thought to be alarmed at the club’s current standing of 18th in the Premier League table with Carrick presiding over the club’s worst start to a top-flight season since 1986. They have won just one league game all season, at home to promoted Ipswich, and suffered mixed results in the Champions League.
It is unlikely two late comebacks from United over the past week will be enough to save Carrick. His side hit back from 2-0 down to beat Roma 3-2 on Tuesday night and then two injury-time efforts salvaged a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday afternoon.
Pochettino high on United’s wish-list
If he is sacked, United have several options. Mauricio Pochettino is the current favourite after a weekend surge in the betting. The Argentine is the current boss of the United States national team and signed a new four-year deal in August that is reported to contain a £7million release clause.
Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are the other main contenders with both men out of work.
Carrick has ruled out resigning and is hoping to ride out the storm.
Asked if he was considering walking away after the Villa game, he told Sky Sports: “I’m not. I’m quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in, and it’s got to win games.
“We haven’t won enough games, but I expect to move forward and keep working on the things that we’ve been working on and showing a lot of the good in the game today, tighten up on a few mistakes and win football matches.”
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