Michael Carrick's position as Manchester United manager is almost beyond the point of no return after Saturday's defeat at Chelsea, with his own players blamed for letting him down. The 2-0 loss at Stamford Bridge followed another display of poor discipline that has heaped further pressure on the manager.
Carrick was given the permanent job at Old Trafford after a strong end to last season, but his tenure has been a disaster since. The board failed to back him in the summer transfer market, and his players, whose careers he revived last season, are either in the worst form of their careers or have downed tools.
Costly Mistakes at Stamford Bridge
United were beaten after failing to convert golden chances in the first half. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo wasted opportunities, while Matheus Cunha had a goal disallowed for offside. After the break, the side fell apart, with Morgan Rogers carving his way between Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez, who offered no challenge on the edge of their own box.
United then picked up two obvious yellow cards in the space of a minute, the latter gifting Chelsea a penalty. Martinez stopped Rogers on the edge of the box for a yellow card, then inexplicably jumped into Wesley Fofana, putting his hands in his face when he was not looking at the ball. Referee Peter Bankes missed the incident, but a VAR review awarded the penalty and sent Martinez off for a second booking. Cole Palmer converted the spot kick to kill the game.
Martinez's Future in Question
Martinez trudged off the pitch past Carrick, who showed his disgust by not even looking at him. The 28-year-old had only just returned to the pitch after an outburst about the board's failure to invest in the transfer window. United finished with a net spend of just £100 million, being outspent by all three newly-promoted clubs.
Martinez's contract is up at the end of the season, and his frustration at not being offered a new deal, with the club looking likely to activate a one-year extension, has made it seem like he is trying to force an exit. As one of the most experienced heads in the dressing room and a former captain, his latest infraction is inexcusable.
No More Chances
Whether Carrick keeps his job after the international break should have no bearing on Martinez's future. United's flops need to face the consequences for letting the club down. Martinez has to be put up for transfer in January and never play for the club again. A man who felt like a victim of a lack of spending only to throw his manager and team-mates under the bus on the pitch deserves no extra chances at Old Trafford.
