Four Crucial Steps Michael Carrick Must Take to Rescue His Man Utd Career

Manchester United and Michael Carrick found themselves in an uncertain position following a bruising week, with many anticipating INEOS would pull the trigger on his managerial reign as the club's on-pitch struggles continued to mount.

The Red Devils were thrashed by Como before suffering a limp exit at home to Bournemouth. It was the kind of loss that felt terminal for the manager, even as supporters made clear who they largely held responsible for the club's miserable start to the campaign.

Yet the widely anticipated announcement never came. Some have speculated that Man Utd simply cannot afford to sack Carrick and fund a costly new appointment. Whatever the reality, Carrick remains in charge, and a crucial showdown against Chelsea now looms.

The Blues appeared to be gaining momentum after recording their first Premier League clean sheet since January against Everton, but Xabi Alonso then became only the second Chelsea manager since 1990 to preside over a home league loss to Tottenham Hotspur last week, before following that up with a cup defeat to Liverpool. Their most realistic path to a trophy has now vanished.

There is pressure on Alonso, but the level of scrutiny he faces is incomparable to what Carrick is enduring. The Englishman may have just one more 'prove it' fixture left before his dismissal becomes unavoidable.

Here's how Carrick can rescue his job this weekend.

Bring Back Bruno

Carrick felt he had little option but to drop his skipper for Bournemouth's trip to Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes had publicly undermined him following the 4–1 loss at Como, criticising the manager's tactical approach.

Fernandes's public outburst left a bitter aftertaste, particularly given that it was Carrick who helped facilitate his record-breaking season — claiming the Premier League's single-season assist record and the PFA Player of the Year award. Fernandes had been stifled under Ruben Amorim, who sought to reshape him into a box-to-box midfielder. Carrick unleashed the Portuguese as a creative force, and United flourished as a result.

Ultimately, this United side needs Fernandes at his very best to thrive. It comes as little surprise that his personal dip in form has coincided with a dreadful start to the season, yet last week's defeat to the Cherries demonstrated that benching him, while understandable, is not a sustainable solution for the manager.

The two have reportedly resolved their differences this week, with Fernandes set to reclaim his place in the starting eleven on Saturday.

Stop Relying on Diogo Dalot

Carrick can point the finger at those above him for the glaring left back problem. Man Utd were actively seeking cover for Luke Shaw toward the close of the summer window, but appeared to abandon their pursuit once it became evident that Lewis Hall would not be departing Newcastle United.

With Shaw fit last season, the increased fixture load was always going to test the frequently injury-prone Englishman. It should have come as no shock, then, that Shaw has already been sidelined on multiple occasions, leaving Carrick severely hamstrung.

United lack quality depth in that position, and the problems without Shaw reached a breaking point last Sunday. Diogo Dalot was deployed as a makeshift option, tasked with providing width down the left while Mason Mount tucked inside. The combination lacked spark and looked uncomfortable throughout.

Carrick cannot continue to use Dalot as an advanced outlet on the left flank. It simply does not function. Either Marcus Rashford must be handed a start on Saturday to inject some pace and directness, or Carrick gets inventive at right back — with Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui dropping into a back three in possession, freeing the right-sided defender to push forward. Amad Diallo, perhaps?

Trust the Kids

Turning to youth is often the go-to move for a manager under pressure looking to win back the crowd. Carrick doesn't need to win over the supporters — they are firmly behind him.

That said, given the underwhelming output from the senior players so far this season, Carrick would do no harm to his position by giving the academy a chance. We're not referring to Ayden Heaven, who arrived from Arsenal, but rather players like Shea Lacey, who was not afforded enough time to build on a promising display against Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup.

Lacey has featured from the bench in consecutive matches and appears the most likely youngster to earn a starting berth. Carrick also has Harry Amass, Jack Fletcher, Jariyah Shah and Jim Thwaites involved in first-team training at senior level.

When it comes to a potential left back fix, Amass could be the answer. The 19-year-old is the most seasoned of United's academy prospects and has already made two senior appearances this season.

Should Amass start at left back, Dalot could be unleashed in a more attacking role on the opposite flank.

Back to Basics

It is understandable that Carrick has looked to develop his Man Utd side since being handed the role permanently. As Lisandro Martínez stated during his post-match outburst following the defeat to Atlético Madrid: "Every season is different. You can't stay with what you did last season. The teams knows how you play, they know every detail, if you don't change next season [it] is a big problem."

Martínez was speaking primarily about personnel, but his words carry equal weight from a tactical standpoint.

Carrick initially embraced a no-frills approach upon taking charge. United were compact and disciplined in a 4-4-2 without the ball, and maximised their attacking threat by positioning Fernandes in tight spaces around the centre forward, supported by runners in behind.

It is worth remembering that much of United's post-Sir Alex Ferguson success has come under managers who prioritised the counter-attack. They have looked disorganised and uncertain out of possession this season, and given widespread concerns over fitness levels, reverting to a structured, low-block approach similar to the latter stages of 2025–26 could prove effective. Sit deep, deny space and hurt Chelsea on the break.

With Benjamin Šeško absent, deploy Fernandes alongside Bryan Mbeumo, with Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo providing the running threat in attack.