OPINION: Manchester United fell to yet another Premier League defeat - this time at the hands of Chelsea - to push Michael Carrick even closer to the Old Trafford axe

This week marks the 40th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson's arrival at Manchester United.

Back on November 6, 1986, he walked into Old Trafford to find a dressing-room booze culture that needed ripping apart. Fast forward to the present day and United have a squad that has the fans hitting the boos and needs bulldozing.

The only problem is that the modern, rudderless United is home to the only Last Chance Saloon on earth that has lock-ins. Still, the last orders' bell looks set to ring for boss Michael Carrick come the international break.

But whoever takes over next, whether it's Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann or Antonio Conte, will need more than just the personality to command the dressing room. They will need the authority to get rid of players who are not – as co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe would say – “best in class”.

Make sure you don't miss the best Man Utd coverage by making the Daily Mirror one of your Google preferred sources.

Fergie had both. But it still took him six and a half years to turn United into champions.

There is no way he would have put up with the outbursts from Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes in recent weeks. That's on Carrick. That's why he needs to go. And don't think managers can't act like Fergie any more.

Mikel Arteta ruthlessly bombed out Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. And look where they are now – champions, six and a half years after Arteta took charge.

Harry Maguire, Noussair Mazraoui, Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot are all well past their sell-by date. And that is just in defence.

Mason Mount, Manuel Ugarte, Joshua Zirkzee... The list goes on.

That may sound harsh, but United are on their worst run without a league win since May 2025. And all those were on the team sheets when they finished 16th with 42 points.

At the heart of it then, and now, is Bruno Fernandes. How United did not take the money when the Saudis were offering nine figures is just bonkers.

The outgoing player of the year is a wonderful individual talent, but a leader of champions he is not. Against Chelsea, he lost possession 31 times — nearly twice as often as any other player at Stamford Bridge, and more than anyone in any of Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Fernandes and Amad Diallo were also guilty of missing big first-half chances that could have had the game sewn up by half-time. After the break, Morgan Rogers danced through the heart of the United defence to give Chelsea a 50th-minute lead.

Then Martinez jumped elbow-first into Wesley Fofana at a corner and was shown a second yellow card. That ought to be the 28-year-old Argie's last action for the club.

Chelsea were awarded a penalty, which Cole Palmer converted for his 50th Premier League goal. But while Carrick may be shown the door, it looks like only relegation will persuade this ragtag squad of hangers-on to move on.

That might be happening sooner than some dare to contemplate. It is no longer a question of whether United could find themselves in a relegation battle....they are already in one.

Seven league games without a win — including two against ten men. Four goalless games. Only Coventry have more. Zero clean sheets. Zero away wins.

The numbers are damning.

When asked how United can turn their season around, Dalot said: “Tomorrow, try to give my best. Always fight for the club and try to match the standards that we should have every single day. And then on the pitch, give everything for the club.”

There is that. And the pending 13th managerial appointment of the post-Fergie era.