Manchester United have reportedly decided against appointing an interim manager should Michael Carrick be sacked, while co-chairman Avram Glazer has made a rare public comment about the club.
United's managerial agreement
The club has developed a pattern of recruiting temporary managers in recent seasons. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer held that position before securing the role on a permanent basis, and following his dismissal in November 2021, Ralf Rangnick assumed control for the remainder of the season. Carrick, too, served as caretaker manager himself throughout the latter half of last season.
However, Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada, who oversee United's football operations, would prefer a permanent appointment rather than a temporary solution should they part ways with Carrick. The United hierarchy would take a 'long-term' view, recognising their next managerial decision will prove absolutely crucial.
Carrick still has their backing for now, though.
Glazer speaks out
Co-chairman Avram Glazer has claimed that the club's commercial strength does not depend on silverware. Speaking to investors at Deutsche Bank's Sports Investment Conference in London, Glazer drew comparisons between United and the New York Yankees and Dallas Cowboys, organisations capable of sustaining a worldwide profile despite lacking on-field achievements.
The remarks highlight United's ownership belief that its commercial appeal remains impervious, even as scrutiny intensifies on those leading the club. The statements will likely provoke further outrage amongst United supporters, who continued their demonstrations against the Glazers, minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, and club officials during the triumph over Roma.
Around 3,000 green and gold balloons were released before kick-off, while tennis balls were thrown onto the pitch in the first half. Chants of "We want the Glazers out" rang out long after the final whistle had blown.
The pessimism surrounding Manchester United has eased somewhat ahead of Sunday's home match with Aston Villa. Carrick's side appeared set for another costly defeat when trailing Roma 2-0 in the Champions League, but they delivered a remarkable comeback, completed through two late strikes from Matheus Cunha, who subsequently received a red card following two swift bookings for his celebration and a foul in stoppage time. The Brazilian attacker will serve the standard one-match suspension after escaping further sanction for not heading directly to the changing room upon receiving his dismissal.
Aston Villa test
In Villa, United face a team flourishing under Unai Emery following their summer rebuild. Emery is considered a prime candidate to replace Carrick, if the United boss is sacked, but the Villa boss is instead closing in on a new contract at Villa Park. Another win this weekend would bolster Carrick's standing as United enter the international break.
