Manchester United have decided on their ‘preferred’ manager as a report refutes ‘contact’ with three possible replacements for Michael Carrick.

Many assumed Carrick was done after the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford followed the 4-1 Champions League humiliation at the hands of Como.

But crisis talks between Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Jason Wilcox, Christopher Vivell and Omar Berrada granted him a ‘stay of execution’.

The blame for the 2-0 defeat to Chelsea could be laid almost entirely at the door of Lisandro Martinez, which meant no change of tack was necessary – they would wait for the international break to make a decision on his future.

The 3-2 comeback win over Roma has eased the tension at Manchester United and the pressure on Carrick.

And although Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are thought to be the frontrunners to replace him, Whitwell revealed on Friday that they’re not “advancing” in talks with alternatives, hinting that Carrick’s “got the job” for an extended period.

“They [United chiefs] decided to give him to the international break, a chance to turn things around,” he said on the Stretford Paddock YouTube channel.

“Not to say they’d make a change during the break, but to reassess at that point…

“I’m not aware of anything advancing with any other candidates, even in just honing in on potential successors.

“It would suggest that Carrick’s got the job.”

ESPN have gone a step further, refuting reports that Man Utd have been in touch with Howe, Nagelsmann, Didier Deschamps or anyone else, insisting that Red Devils chiefs have ‘stopped short of making direct contact with potential successors’.

The report does add that United ‘feel prepared’ should Carrick be sacked after they ‘did their due diligence’ before appointing Carrick in May and have ‘updated files on coaches interviewed in the summer of 2024’.

But while ‘contingencies are being discussed in case results don’t pick up’ their ‘preference is to keep Carrick’.

‘Signs of improvement’

The man himself believes that his side is “showing signs of improvement” after claiming in his press conference ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday that the first half against Roma – which saw them concede two goals and give up plenty of further chances – “wasn’t so bad”.

Carrick said: “When you watch the [Roma] game back, in the first half it wasn’t so bad. There were moments in there that we left ourselves short really.

“They’re the moments we have got to clean up on. Little moments here and there that have changed games for us, which is football, something we have to manage – the first half against Chelsea was very good.

“I think we are showing signs of improvement in that respect. We have got to take that moving forward.”