Michael Carrick faces a defining test as Manchester United travel to Chelsea on Saturday, with the Premier League lunchtime kick-off carrying huge significance for the under-pressure manager. United are winless in their last eight matches across all competitions, while Xabi Alonso's Chelsea head into the fixture as favourites.
Despite the poor run, Carrick has so far kept his job. The 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como was followed by a 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth last Sunday, and the United hierarchy have continued to back the former midfielder to turn results around. Tension is nonetheless growing behind the scenes as the club weighs up how to get back on track.
Shock striker target
Carrick's difficulties have been compounded by the continued absence of Benjamin Sesko, who is now unlikely to make his first appearance of the season until the new year. His shin injury has proved far more serious than initially expected, leaving Bryan Mbeumo to fill in out of position as a No. 9, with Joshua Zirkzee out of favour.
United could look to strengthen when the transfer window reopens in January, though their options will inevitably be restricted, as is typical in the mid-season market. According to The Athletic, Leeds United's Dominic Calvert-Lewin is among the names under consideration. A deal appears highly improbable, however, not only because of the rivalry between the two clubs but also because the England striker has rediscovered his best form as Daniel Farke's key man and would likely face a reduced role at Old Trafford.
Glazers angry with Ratcliffe
The Glazer family are reportedly frustrated with how minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been overseeing the club since taking charge of football operations. The Glazers retain their majority shareholding but granted Ratcliffe and his Ineos team complete autonomy following his £1.25billion investment.
Ratcliffe quickly implemented extensive cost-cutting measures, which attracted widespread criticism, and has not delivered the on-pitch improvement supporters had anticipated. According to the Mail, the Glazers are dissatisfied with how the club is being run. "It's a travesty and not what they expected or were promised," a source with social ties to the family said. "They have never run the club this way."
A further source told ESPN that Ratcliffe's scaling back of numerous departments is entirely at odds with his previously stated strategy, with the Glazers reportedly believing Ratcliffe "couldn't have masterminded a worse situation."
