Manchester United's 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday has left manager Michael Carrick questioning the reliability of three key players: Lisandro Martinez, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount.
United fell behind five minutes after the restart and were 2-0 down and a man short shortly after the hour mark. Estevao had a goal disallowed for offside by the tightest of margins, but the result leaves United on seven points from nine league games. By comparison, they had 11 from nine games when Erik ten Hag was sacked in 2024.
Defeat adds to mounting pressure
The loss is United's fifth in the league this season, extending their winless run in all competitions. Their last victory came on September 10 against Sabah in the Champions League, with defeats away to Atletico Madrid and Como since then.
Next up is a Champions League match against Roma, followed by a league game against Aston Villa. If United fail to beat both, the winless run will stretch to two months.
Carrick remains in place for now, but the result could be the final straw. Even if he stays, the former Middlesbrough boss may feel there are players he can no longer trust.
Martinez's red card under scrutiny
Lisandro Martinez was sent off against Chelsea after striking Wesley Fofana inside the United area. He was already on a yellow card, and Carrick acknowledged the impact of the dismissal.
"The second goal and losing a man at that stage had a big influence on it, for sure," Carrick said. He shook his head when asked if he felt the defender had let him down, but some neutral observers saw things differently.
Martinez had also been vocal in his criticism after the defeat to Atletico Madrid, and his red card at Chelsea adds to concerns about his discipline.
Fernandes and Mount fail to impress
Bruno Fernandes was brought back into the starting lineup after being dropped to the bench for the defeat at home to Bournemouth. He had been critical after that match, but clear-the-air talks appeared to have resolved the issue.
"He's the one that's led the team so well for many a game and many a year, and he'll continue to do that. There are absolutely no issues with that," Carrick said.
However, Fernandes was largely anonymous against Chelsea, save for one wayward shot when played through by Bryan Mbeumo, leading some fans to speculate that the captain wants out.
Mason Mount came on against his former club when United were two goals and a man down. He has started three games in all competitions this season, and United have lost all three, conceding 10 goals in the process.
Injuries have taken their toll on Mount in recent seasons, and he will be as frustrated as anyone at having been unable to make his mark during a period in which he has been fit and available. However, it appears Carrick might no longer consider him someone he can turn to when the chips are down.
