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MICHAEL CARRICK will remarkably remain in charge of Manchester United for their Premier League fixture at Chelsea on Saturday.
United sources say Carrick will have the opportunity to turn the situation around, despite eight games without a win and the club 16th in the table.
Insiders say the players and staff are focused on providing a response to the 3-0 drubbing by Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge this weekend.
Carrick arrived at Carrington at 7:30am on Tuesday morning to oversee today’s training session.
The United players had Monday off but were back in for 10am to prepare for the lunchtime kick-off at Stamford Bridge.
Insiders say United decision-makers are not fully sold on available coaches Antonio Conte, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann. A well-placed source said, “The best ones won’t come.”
United have not made a formal approach for Conte, Howe has done due diligence amid the prospect of an offer from the club while United’s director of recruitment Christopher Vivell worked with Nagelsmann in the Red Bull group.
Fabian Hurzeler has all but been discounted due to the lofty compensation fee Brighton would receive for the German.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has admirers at United but he is under contract at Villa Park until 2029 and would also be pricey.
Emery also holds the title of ‘manager’ at Villa and United have insisted on ‘head coach’ status since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became co-owner in February 2024.
Director of football Jason Wilcox likened himself to a “manager” last season, which infuriated head coach Ruben Amorim and contributed to his sudden sacking in January.#
United paid €10million (£8.4m) to release Amorim from his Sporting Lisbon contract in October 2024.
The club shelled out a meagre £2.5m to hire Erik ten Hag from Ajax in 2022 and Molde received £500,000 for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in March 2019.
David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Carrick were all free when United hired them.