Carrick stays in charge for Chelsea as Manchester United resist managerial change

Michael Carrick will lead Manchester United at Chelsea despite successive damaging defeats, with scrutiny extending beyond the manager to the squad and club hierarchy.

Manchester United have opted to keep Michael Carrick in charge for Saturday's visit to Chelsea, giving him an opportunity to arrest a slump that has left the club 16th in the Premier League. His position appeared increasingly precarious after Sunday's 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth, but United have set no deadline for a recovery. Carrick returned to Carrington on Tuesday morning and took training as normal.

The Stamford Bridge trip opens a demanding sequence, with Roma visiting in the Champions League three days later before United face in-form Aston Villa in the league. A two-week international break follows. That gap offers a potential point for reassessment, although the club have not identified it as a deadline for deciding whether Carrick should continue.

Pressure intensified after the 4-1 defeat at Como on 21 October, when captain Bruno Fernandes publicly challenged Carrick's tactics and his coaches' response to problems during the match. Fernandes was subsequently an unused substitute against Bournemouth. His criticism followed comments from Lisandro Martinez questioning both investment in the squad and technical director Jason Wilcox. Supporters applauded Carrick after Sunday's defeat but directed their anger towards the players.

United's leadership believe responsibility extends beyond the dugout. Senior figures regard the squad as capable of reaching the Champions League and consider its current performances well below that standard. One player told BBC Sport: “The feeling is that we all want to put it right.” Chief executive Omar Berrada and Wilcox discussed the club's immediate direction at Carrington on Monday, before confirmation of Carrick's position emerged on Tuesday.

Alternatives have nevertheless been considered. Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann were among the managers explored as United weighed up a change, according to BBC Sport. Antonio Conte is reportedly open to discussing the role, though no direct contact has taken place. Aston Villa manager Unai Emery also has admirers within the club, but United recognise the difficulty of persuading him to leave Villa Park.

The scrutiny also reaches the executives responsible for shaping the squad. Wilcox's position has come under particular attention, while Berrada's future has also been questioned by a senior figure in the game. Recruitment priorities remain a concern after United strengthened midfield rather than addressing problems at left-back and centre-forward, with injuries to Luke Shaw and Benjamin Sesko exposing those gaps further.

Original reporting:BBC Sport