Back
According to a report by The Sun on Saturday, October 31, 2026, Michael Carrick's position as Manchester United manager is increasingly under threat following a disappointing 2-0 loss to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, extending the club's winless streak in all competitions to nine games.
The defeat has deepened United's ongoing struggles and further reduced their chances of turning their season around. It also marked another disappointing result following successive defeats against Como and Bournemouth.
Chelsea emerged victorious after Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer scored in the second half, leaving Carrick facing growing scrutiny over his ability to improve the team's fortunes at Old Trafford.
Manchester United competed reasonably well in the opening half, with both teams creating chances without managing to score. Cunha briefly appeared to have given the visitors the lead, but his goal was disallowed because of an offside decision.
The game changed shortly after half-time when Rogers put Chelsea ahead in the 50th minute. The forward produced an impressive solo run, beating several United defenders before chipping the ball over Lammens to give the home side the advantage.
United's hopes of getting back into the contest were dealt a major blow in the 64th minute when Martinez received his second yellow card in quick succession and was dismissed.
The sending-off also resulted in a penalty for Chelsea, allowing Palmer to step up and score from the spot, putting the hosts firmly in control at 2-0.
Chelsea nearly extended their lead further, but Estevao had another effort disallowed following a VAR review that confirmed he was offside. Meanwhile, Penders denied Mbeumo with a superb late save, turning the Manchester United forward's powerful volley onto the crossbar.
The result leaves Manchester United without a win in their last nine matches across all competitions, placing Carrick under considerable pressure. The club had previously stood by the manager despite the team's poor run, but the latest defeat has intensified calls for a possible change.
The Sun reports that Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are currently considered the leading candidates to take over if Manchester United decide to part ways with Carrick.
United will have little time to recover from the disappointment, with a Champions League meeting against Roma scheduled for Tuesday, followed by a Premier League clash with Aston Villa.
As the team's disappointing form continues, the club's leadership must carefully assess Carrick's future. The latest loss to Chelsea has raised further doubts about whether he can reverse Manchester United's fortunes and get their season back on track.