Michael Carrick has insisted his gesture at full-time during Manchester United's 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford was not a farewell to fans, despite mounting pressure on his position.
The Red Devils' loss to the Cherries extended their winless run to eight games. United have managed just two wins all season, and the latest defeat has left Carrick's future looking deeply uncertain.
Carrick's Post-Match Comments
Carrick appeared to wave to supporters as he headed down the tunnel, but later clarified the gesture was not intended as a goodbye. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It wasn't [a goodbye] for me."
"It was a strange mix of emotions at the end of the game. It wasn't a nice way to end the game."
"It was a tough day for the players. We went into the game having been rocked. You can feel that. They're really hurting and disappointed in there. It's not a nice feeling. You have to accept it, we're in that situation."
Manager Speculation and Player Criticism
Eddie Howe is currently the favourite to take charge, with Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann also mentioned as potential options.
Carrick's preparations for the match were overshadowed by comments from captain Bruno Fernandes, who criticised the manager's tactics in the 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como. Fernandes was left on the bench for the Bournemouth game, a decision Jamie Carragher, assessing the match for Sky Sports, believes was deliberate.
"I don't think he was ever going to bring him on," Carragher said. "It was a deliberate decision to leave him on the bench to try and almost embarrass him."
Club Criticism and Player Response
Carragher also criticised the club's leadership, saying: "The Manchester United fans are singing the Michael Carrick song. I think they know what's going to happen here, they have seen this before."
"He's one of their own, and he's popular, but the owners, the sporting department and the players are not popular, they have badly let this football club down."
"And those two (Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox) are probably going to make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans, but it is probably necessary. It's just an absolute mess."
Harry Maguire, speaking to Sky Sports, said the players must take responsibility. "It wasn't good enough," he said. "Disappointed to give a goal away so early - another set play - and conceding first in the Premier League it makes it difficult."
"A mistake for the second makes it hard for ourselves. We didn't perform well enough as individuals or as a team and we didn't deserve anything from the game."
"It's not clicking at the moment. Results are not good enough and performances in the last week not good enough. Still early in the season."
"Got to find something, question yourself, look in the mirror - that's the most important thing - think what you can do more and what more you can contribute to the team and if we do that we'll get somewhere."
