Peter Schmeichel has hit out at the 'very disrespectful' way that he believes beleaguered Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is being treated as he awaits his sacking at Old Trafford. 

The former club captain has endured a torrid start to the season, and while the Man United hierarchy publicly backed him as recently as three weeks ago, Carrick is now set to be handed his marching orders following a crisis summit in Monaco. 

Man United chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox flew to the Principality to meet with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to ratify the decision to move on from Carrick, with current USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino set to be appointed in his wake. 

But with Carrick still taking team training at Carrington while plans for his ejection from the club made global headlines, Schmeichel admitted he felt deep sympathy for the former midfielder's awkward position.  

'I think the way this is playing out is very disrespectful to him,' Schmeichel said on The Overlap Daily. 'If I’m honest, I don’t think he’s doing anything wrong. 

'I know the team that he’s in charge of is where they are in the table, but I don’t put all of that on him. There are so many things that have been going on at Manchester United literally since Alex (Ferguson) and (former chief executive) David Gill left the club. And it’s never been corrected. 

'It’s not been the correct people, not the right people in charge, and slowly it’s just gone worse.'

Man United sit within the relegation zone as this international break plays out, with Carrick's men winless in the Premier League since late August. 

Last-minute comebacks against Roma in the Champions League and Aston Villa in domestic action however may have briefly boosted morale at Old Trafford. 

But to Schmeichel, the issue lies at the feet of those who recruit at the club, rather than Carrick himself.  

'If you think about this transfer window now, it’s abundantly clear to everyone - everyone who knows just a little bit about football - that Manchester United needed defenders,' he continued. 'They got through a whole transfer window without signing a single defender. 

'There was a little bit of talk about Lewis Hall joining the club or going for Lewis Hall. That didn’t happen. And so, they bought three midfield players. And we know, because we’ve been in the game for so many years, that you can’t win games - if you concede 30 goals in 10 games, then there is a problem, and that was not addressed. 

'Now, was Michael Carrick in on those decisions? Well, it took them forever, forever, to give him the job. So, I suspect he wasn’t in any of those discussions about who to sign up until the point he got named as manager. 

'So yes, I do feel a lot of sympathy for Michael. I think what is happening is wrong. I think we should stick with Michael. I think we should just try and steady the ship a little bit and then get into January and then sign the players that he feels he needs to bring the team forward and then be realistic about what this season is all about. Obviously, it’s about climbing as high as Manchester United can in the table.'

By contrast, Schmeichel's co-pundit Tim Sherwood said he did not feel sorry for Carrick, because he will have understood the brutal situation he was stepping into at Man United. 

The former Middlesbrough head coach served as interim manager for the second-half of the previous season following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, and was named on a permanent basis over the summer. 

But while Schmeichel admitted that the life cycle of a Premier League coach was undeniably short, his issue is with the manner of treatment Carrick has received in the process of the changing of the guard in the dugout.  

'If they’re looking for somebody else, then relieve the man of his duties,' the former goalkeeper argued. 'Don’t let him come into training yesterday. He took training yesterday. How disrespectful is that? 

'How do you think this fella – I mean, he’s a human being. He’s a very, very good human being. He’s one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet in your life, and obviously you two know him well. So, treat the guy with respect. Tell him, "Sorry, mate. We don’t think that you are the future here. Here’s a cheque. Move on." But they’re not doing that. They’re dragging it out.'

Schmeichel was incensed too by Carrick's status within the club, wondering aloud whether, since they had taken 'weeks and weeks' to come to their messy, public decision, the club's hierarchy might not really understand what it is to truly represent the club.  

'Do you think these people know? Do you think they care?' Schmeichel continued. 'These people are not Manchester United people. 

'They don’t understand what it’s like to be one of the Manchester United people. They don’t know that. This is obviously part of the broader issue here, part of the reason the club is where they are now. I’m not saying I feel sorry for Michael, but I’m a little bit angry at how this great football club is treating one of its greatest players. Simple as that.'

Talks have been planned with Pochettino overnight on Wednesday, with the club's hierarchy thought to be preparing to dismiss Carrick face-to-face on Thursday. 

Pochettino is currently at the US Soccer base outside Atlanta preparing for a CONCACAF Nations League quarter-final double header against Haiti, and is due to speak to the media on Friday.

It’s unclear if he will remain in charge for those games. It is possible he could stay for the first leg in Kingston, Jamaica at the weekend and then travel to Manchester.

The second leg in Cincinnati is not until the early hours of Thursday, and it seems inconceivable that Pochettino would only take over at United on Friday with a huge game against Liverpool at Anfield 48 hours later.

It’s understood that the US Soccer Federation are ready for this contingency and have a succession plan in place should he leave.

It will cost Pochettino around £7million to buy himself out of his contract with the US Soccer Federation, with United ready to foot the bill.

The cost of bringing in his back-room team, including trusted assistants Jesus Perez and Miguel D’Agostino, will take the cost above £10m.

Meanwhile in Manchester, Carrick took training for the second day in a row at the club's Carrington training ground on Wednesday, arriving at 7.45am and departing shortly after 1.30pm.

Carrick has overseen the club's worst start to the season in 40 years, but the man himself remained adamant that he would not be falling on his sword after battling back to claim a draw against Villa. 

In an awkward interview with Sky Sports' Patrick Davison, Carrick remained steadfast in the face of questions as to whether he would quit his role amid the turbulence. 

'You know the situation, we haven't won enough games,' he said. 'But I expect to move forward with things we've been working on, showing a lot of the good from today tighten up a few mistakes and win some football matches.' 

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