Eddie Howe has emerged as the clear favourite with bookmakers to take over as Manchester United head coach if the club's hierarchy decides to make a change following Wednesday night's 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.
The Red Devils were humiliated in Italy, falling 4-0 behind before Joshua Zirkzee scored a late consolation. The result has increased pressure on head coach Michael Carrick, who apologised to supporters after the match.
Pressure mounts on Carrick after Como humiliation
Former Newcastle United head coach Howe has been out of football since leaving the club in the summer and has turned down job offers while waiting for the right opportunity. He is now priced at 2/1 to be the next Manchester United manager with most bookmakers.
Carrick said he has not given his own position any thought but admitted the performance was "not acceptable".
"I've not given my own position any thought - this is for the supporters - I was one of them watching that, and I wasn't happy at all," he said. "It's not about me right now, and my feelings in that regard. It's more as a team and as a football club, what we want to look like, what we should look like. And as I said, the results can come and go at times, but you've got to do it in a certain way. And that wasn't it."
Fernandes criticises tactics after early substitution
The pressure on Carrick intensified when midfielder Bruno Fernandes appeared to blame the coaching staff for the defeat, insisting the tactics and lack of intensity were down to them. This came just a week after Lisandro Martinez had criticised the club's hierarchy.
"It's a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence," said Fernandes after being substituted at 3-0 down.
When asked specifically about the tactics, he added: "That's on the manager and staff to see it, not me. Sometimes you have to be more brave under pressure, take the risk of pressing high and making them uncomfortable."
Other contenders in the betting market
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler, former Chelsea and Tottenham manager Antonio Conte, and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann are all priced at 5/1. Como's Cesc Fabregas, who masterminded Wednesday's win, is listed at 11/1.
Carrick added: "I have to apologise to the supporters. I went over to the end and I care about this football club as much as anyone, if not more, with the position that I'm in and what I value this football club. For us to play in that way, it's not acceptable. It wasn't a good performance at all."
