Manchester United have endured a disastrous opening to the Premier League season, collecting just eight points from their first 10 matches and slipping into the relegation zone.

Sunday’s extraordinary 4-4 draw against Aston Villa did little to ease the pressure, leaving Carrick facing the prospect of losing his job just months after securing the permanent managerial position.

United’s hierarchy have consequently intensified their search for a replacement, with Mauricio Pochettino emerging as the leading candidate to take charge at Old Trafford.

The Argentine has reached an agreement in principle with United, although his release from the United States national team still needs to be resolved.

However, Pochettino inherit more than a struggling football team, with reports suggesting relationships between certain players have become strained.

Two Manchester United players involved in heated argument

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United teammates Lisandro Martinez and Youri Tielemans clashed on the flight back to England following their 2-0 Champions League defeat against Atletico Madrid.

The disagreement most likely stemmed from Martinez’s controversial post-match interview, during which the Argentine openly criticised the club’s recruitment strategy and director of football Jason Wilcox.

Despite United investing approximately £158million in midfield reinforcements during the summer, Lisandro Martinez questioned whether the hierarchy had provided sufficient backing to compete against Europe’s strongest sides.

Speaking to Amazon Prime after the defeat, Martinez said, “We expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete.”

He subsequently singled out Wilcox, declaring, “I expect more from our technical director.”

United signed Tielemans, Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos during the summer transfer window, meaning Martinez’s criticism was interpreted by some teammates as questioning the quality of the club’s new arrivals.

When Tielemans was asked about the defender’s remarks immediately after the Atletico defeat, the Belgian refused to become involved in the controversy, responding, “I have no comment on that.”

However, the latest report claims the pair subsequently confronted one another during the journey home, with tensions reportedly escalating behind closed doors.

Sky Sports had previously reported that at least one United player challenged Martinez over his comments as the squad boarded their flight from Madrid.

Martinez later issued a statement clarifying his remarks without apologising, acknowledging that frustration had influenced his comments while insisting he wanted United to compete for major honours.

The defender also emphasised the importance of collective responsibility and expressed confidence in Carrick and his teammates.

Should Pochettino complete his anticipated appointment, rebuilding relationships within the squad could become one of his first major challenges.