Michael Carrick is staying on as Manchester United head coach after crunch talks with club chiefs, despite a chaotic season and a home defeat to Bournemouth.
Carrick was widely expected to be sacked in the aftermath of Sunday's loss, with unrest in the dressing room after both Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes made controversial statements. However, following discussions involving chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and co-owners the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Carrick will remain in charge for now.
Fan support and doubts over replacements
United reportedly leaned towards keeping Carrick following the support he received from fans on Sunday. While supporters at Old Trafford criticised the club's chiefs and owners, Carrick received a positive reception throughout, being cheered as he left the pitch before the players, who were booed.
According to ESPN, the support he received did not go unnoticed by the hierarchy, and it has become clear that the club's problems run deeper than the managerial position. Doubts about leading candidates for the job, including Antonio Conte, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, also played a part in the decision to stick with Carrick, reports The Sun.
Attention will now shift to his team selection for Saturday's game at Chelsea. Fernandes was dropped for the Bournemouth game after criticising Carrick's tactics in the Champions League defeat to Como and did not come off the bench.
Rooney criticises players
Wayne Rooney has criticised United's players, saying they "haven't got a leg to stand on." In an explosive tirade, the club's record goalscorer said he would like to go into the dressing room and stick a firework "up their a****."
Speaking on the Stick to United podcast, he said: "What's not fair is the performances they're giving. I looked at the fans, you could see the pain and anger in their faces when them players are walking around the football pitch."
He added: "You see Martinez when Rayan ran round him, they're not getting to the ball, it's so frustrating. I could score a goal, had ability or whatever, I f****** ran and put myself about as a team. These players are not doing that."
Rooney continued: "I'd love to go in that dressing room, walk in that dressing room and say, 'What the f*** are use all doing? What type of performances do you think this is? Do you think you deserve to wear the shirt?' Put a f****** firework up their a**** because they're not doing anything."
He concluded: "We're seeing players who are numb, look like they've got no emotion, look like they don't care. Some of them might care, some good lads who are getting dragged down. It's so frustrating to watch."
