Manchester United have "reason to panic" after dropping into the Premier League relegation zone, with former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf admitting they may have "no other choice" but to sack Michael Carrick. The Red Devils have endured their worst ever start to a Premier League season and on Saturday evening fell into the bottom three for the first time this term.
United have won just once in nine league games, with their decline showing no sign of easing ahead of a crucial match against Aston Villa at Old Trafford. The club, who finished 15th two years ago in their lowest ever Premier League position, have now sunk to new depths despite fielding an expensively assembled squad, and talk of a relegation battle is growing.
Leboeuf's warning
Leboeuf concedes the club are unlikely to offload their underperforming squad, which could eventually leave them with no option but to make a ruthless change in the dugout if they want to alter the direction of travel in Manchester. Speaking to ESPNFC, the Frenchman said: "It's been a while since you had to panic because we saw the games that they had. There is reason to panic and it's been like that for a while."
"Nothing is getting good, we don't see any improvement, we don't see how it can be better. Again, I'm all for Michael Carrick. But there is a time when there will be no other choices but getting rid of him. You can't get rid of those players who don't deserve to play for Manchester United, who aren't good enough for Manchester United."
"They don't have the guts, the courage, the pride of fighting for the club. I don't see any solution, I don't see anything getting good and if they carry on like that you could see Manchester United getting relegated which is amazing."
Carrick's response
United have 13 Premier League titles to their name, and their relegation would rank among the greatest shocks in the history of English football. After losing at Chelsea eight days ago, Carrick was forced to address the prospect of the team dropping into the Championship.
He said: "We've got to keep moving forward and winning games, simple as that. There's no words that I'm going to explain to you now that makes it [being in relegation zone] any difference, it's not going to change it. We've got to move forward and win football matches, it's as simple as that."
