Manchester United's hierarchy is weighing up whether to sack Michael Carrick after Sunday's heavy defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford, with the manager facing mounting pressure from both inside and outside the club.
The Red Devils were comfortably beaten at home, leaving Carrick on the brink. United's top brass are reportedly considering his dismissal but have yet to agree on a replacement, according to reports.
Board Split on Successor
Director of football Jason Wilcox is reportedly keen to appoint Eddie Howe, while recruitment head Christopher Vivell would favour a move for Julian Nagelsmann.
Supporters, however, are not as united in their view. Thousands of fans chanted Carrick's name after the Bournemouth defeat before turning on the players once he had left the pitch.
Fan Poll Shows Divided Opinion
Express Sport readers are also split, with only 57 per cent of respondents to the latest poll believing Carrick should be sacked. The remaining 43 per cent said he should not be relieved of his duties, with the majority of the blame lying elsewhere.
Gary Neville accused United's players of downing tools following the Bournemouth game, claiming they are not behaving like professional footballers.
"A few of them aren't that professional. I live in Manchester. Some of them aren't that professional, so I've got no time for them," he said.
"There's a few of them that don't go to bed at the right time, don't eat the right things, don't think about Manchester United every single minute of every day, and aren't living and breathing this football club as they should be and as professionals should."
Pundits Call for Change
Jamie Carragher suggested Carrick's position had become untenable despite the 45-year-old being let down by his players.
"It's absolutely rancid, that dressing room," said the former Liverpool defender. "Carrick needs to be put out of his misery tonight. Manchester United need to make that change tonight, they need to make that decision."
"The fans have taken the side of Michael Carrick and it's not about him being the manager, it's about him being a huge figure in United's history."
"Those players have done nothing compared to teams of the past so Michael Carrick is always going to win that fight with Bruno Fernandes, and rightly so, no matter how talented a player he is."
"But also, Manchester United as a football club, one of the biggest in the world, are 16th in the Premier League right now and that can't continue."
"Michael Carrick needs to be relieved of his duties tonight, not just for the good of Manchester United, but also for the good of Michael Carrick."
