Manchester United reviewing Michael Carrick’s position over international break

Manchester United are reviewing head coach Michael Carrick’s position as the club take stock during the international break, the Press Association understands.

The Red Devils will spend the two-week domestic hiatus in the relegation zone after failing to add to August’s solitary Premier League win against Ipswich in Sunday’s 4-4 draw with Aston Villa.

United showed spirit and all-too-familiar flaws in a chaotic clash that ended with substitutes Joshua Zirkzee and Patrick Dorgu scoring in stoppage time just days on from the 3-2 comeback victory over Roma.

Those matches followed a 2-0 loss at Chelsea, where they were unable to take their chances and saw Lisandro Martinez sent off, after the club hierarchy decided Carrick would get the chance to turn things around.

United will consider over the coming days whether the head coach and his players have managed that, having debated his position after a 4-1 defeat at Como was compounded by a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth.

Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada will be a key part of the discussions at the start of an international break that Carrick headed into having stressed he would not walk away.

Asked if the November pause comes at a good time for the group, the under-fire United boss said: “Yeah, it’s been a right mixed week or two or three, really, if you’re looking at the events.

“But I’m pretty clear where we need to go and how we need to get there.

“Obviously some of the boys will be flying off around the world and different things, and the group will be split for 10 days or so.

“But as a normal international week is, you know, we’ll have some training. We’ll have one or two days off, but not too much. But we’ll train, and we’ll get ready for the next game.”

The final international break of the year would seem a logical time if United wanted to make a change, given there is no free midweek until mid-December after returning with a trip to rivals Liverpool on November 22.

Former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann are contenders to replace Carrick if the club decide a change in the Old Trafford hotseat is necessary.

Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham, Paris St Germain and Chelsea manager, has often been linked with the role and bookmakers have slashed odds on him coming in.

The former Argentina defender extended his deal in charge of the United States national team until 2030 just three months ago.

Carrick’s future is up in the air but the head coach is steadfast in his belief that he can lead the embattled side up the standings having seen enough positives since the nadir of Bournemouth.

“Goals change games, and you’ve got to deal with it, and it’s part of something we have to improve on drastically,” Carrick said.

“But there’s more than enough. We’re just making it too difficult for ourselves at the moment in certain times.”