Manchester United's hierarchy are reportedly in agreement on three key points that support keeping Michael Carrick in charge, despite the team's precarious position. United sit in the relegation zone after winning just one of their first 10 Premier League games, piling pressure on the manager during the second international break of the season.
Three reasons for caution
It was reported on Monday night that Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox are set to recommend to co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe that Carrick be relieved of his duties, with a meeting in Monaco planned for Wednesday. However, Sky Sports has explained why the decision is not as clear cut as it appears.
Three reasons are highlighted for the board's cautious approach: the supporters' response, the squad's backing, and the impact that replacing the manager would actually have. While Old Trafford fans have voiced frustration towards the club and occasionally the players, Carrick has been spared criticism from the terraces, with supporters not calling for his head in contrast to numerous sackings across the Premier League and EFL.
Dressing room confidence remains
Beyond retaining the crowd's backing, Carrick also appears to maintain the dressing room's confidence. The fightbacks against both Roma and Aston Villa in the previous two fixtures, securing a victory and a draw despite trailing by two goals on three separate occasions, demonstrate that the players remain committed to the cause.
That view is reinforced by remarks from goalscorer Patrick Dorgu following the match against Villa. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "I don't feel happy - we are in a bad situation. We need to fight together to get out of it. Draw better than a loss but we had the better opportunities. Everyone needs to look at themselves and ask if they are doing enough. We need to fight for the manager, for the club and get out of this together."
"Of course it hurts [to be in relegation zone], there's a lot of games and we need everyone to come back sharp from international break and start getting wins."
Deeper issues at the club
The third point backs the notion that the circumstances at United require more extensive work than simply replacing the manager. United have appointed eight permanent managers since Sir Alex Ferguson's exit in 2013; while they have won silverware in the years since, they have failed to come anywhere near the standards of the United golden era under their iconic Scottish boss.
It appears that implementing another managerial switch will merely restart the cycle, with inadequate recruitment during transfer windows resulting in further underwhelming displays and yet another manager departing. To transform United's prospects, there must be more substantial alterations than solely the manager.
Despite the three agreements, a change could be on the horizon. USA manager Mauricio Pochettino is the frontrunner to take charge should Carrick be dismissed. The ex-Spurs and Chelsea chief penned a fresh contract with USA in the summer, but United could activate a release clause. The Argentine is reportedly receptive to a switch to Old Trafford.
