Paul Scholes has questioned whether Michael Carrick "wants out" of Manchester United, following a difficult start to the new Premier League season. The 45-year-old only secured a permanent deal at Old Trafford this summer, having made a strong impression during an initial interim spell between January and May.
Yet any momentum Carrick appeared to have built towards the tail end of last season seems to have evaporated in the early stages of 2026/27. United currently sit 13th in the Premier League table after six matches, with just one win to their name.
Pressure mounts at Old Trafford
As a result, serious questions are beginning to surface regarding Carrick's position at the club, particularly given the Red Devils' well-documented history of relieving managers of their duties mid-season. To put it into context, Erik ten Hag was dispatched in October 2024, while his replacement Ruben Amorim was shown the door at the start of 2026.
While the broad expectation is that the club will give Carrick more time in the dugout before taking any drastic action, the board will demand a marked improvement in results over the coming weeks, with October and early November shaping up to be a potentially pivotal period in United's season.
Scholes questions Carrick's commitment
Against that backdrop, former United team-mate Scholes has cast doubt over whether Carrick's commitment to the cause is wholehearted. Speaking on the Good, the Bad and the Football podcast, the 51-year-old said: "Michael did okay in Middlesbrough with what he had.
"I think Middlesbrough were probably expecting more with the budget they had. There's a bit of me when you look at Michael because I know him...Michael's a nice lad. Is there a bit of him that's thinking, 'Get me out of here. Get me out of here, I'll take a few quid.'"
Hurzeler verdict
Scholes also weighed in on the prospect of Fabian Hurzeler stepping into Carrick's shoes, should the club opt to look elsewhere. The German coach has made an impressive start to the campaign, with Brighton and Hove Albion sitting third in the table following four victories, one draw and a solitary loss.
Yet Scholes remains unconvinced that Hurzeler would be the ideal fit for the Old Trafford hot seat. He added: "He's done great. He looks the real deal, but again, Man United is different.
"The scrutiny is on you every single week. If Brighton didn't win a game for the next 10 games, nobody would really be that bothered. The one thing that someone like Hurzeler has got over Michael is that he's done a body of work in the Premier League."
Call for accountability at the top
Scholes also pointed out that United may need to start holding those at the top of the club to account, noting that the revolving door of managerial changes cannot be expected to yield a different result indefinitely. He added: "We've been here for the last three years. We look like it looks like or the sound it sounds like, they're going to change the manager again.
"How can we keep doing this? We're back to square one after six games of the season. When do you stop sacking managers and start blaming people above, the people who are possibly buying the players, the people who are pointing at Michael?"
