Michael Carrick goes into the latest round of Manchester United scrutiny after a 4-1 defeat to Como on 21 October 2026. United's winless run across all competitions has reached seven games, and Carrick's own reaction after the match made clear how badly the performance landed.

Carrick's reaction after Como

"I’m bitterly disappointed. I’m frustrated, more than frustrated, I’m really angry to be honest," Carrick said after the defeat. "You’ve got to move on and think about what’s next. For us to play in that way is not acceptable, it wasn’t a good performance at all."

That anger fits the state of the results. Manchester United sit 13th in the Premier League after seven matches, with one win, four draws and two defeats. Their league goal difference is 0, which is rarely the kind of platform that keeps a manager's position calm for long.

The names being linked

Julian Nagelsmann is the most developed name in the chatter, with reporting saying United have sounded him out and that he would be open to the job. He is also described as a free agent after leaving Germany after the World Cup, while other coverage says he has been out of work since Germany's disappointing World Cup exit in the summer.

The rest of the shortlist is less settled. Fabian Hürzeler has admirers, but Brighton signed him to a new contract in June, so any move would come with a cost. Antonio Conte also sits in the conversation, although the reports around him split sharply, with some saying talks have taken place and others insisting no contact has been held.

Alex Crook put a broader question around the whole search, arguing the issue goes beyond Carrick and saying, "I don’t think Carrick is the biggest problem at the football club." He also pointed to the summer window and the strength of the squad, which is the sort of line that tends to hang around when a club is already wobbling.

United's next step matters because the pressure is no longer theoretical. Seven games without a win and a 4-1 loss to Como have put Carrick back at the centre of the debate, with the manager search now running alongside the results rather than waiting for them.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →