Michael Carrick's Struggles at Manchester United After Como Defeat

Michael Carrick appears to be nearing the end of his managerial run at Manchester United after a humiliating 4-1 loss to Como in Champions League action. This defeat not only added to a series of poor results this season but also tarnished the club’s proud reputation in Europe’s premier competition.

The heavy loss has put Carrick's position under serious threat. The former United midfielder, now 45, seemed aware of the gravity of the situation as he apologized to fans by raising his hands at the away end following the final whistle by Lake Como on Wednesday.

Where Things Went Wrong for Carrick This Season

One major issue has been Carrick’s noticeably passive tactics during the 2026/27 campaign, a sharp change from his interim stint last season. Analytics site MarkStats shows that last season, Manchester United ranked sixth in the Premier League with an 80.4% opponent buildup pass completion rate outside the final third, effectively pressuring opposition and making it difficult for them to advance into attacking zones. Although part of that figure includes the period under Ruben Amorim, it still reflects a strong defensive approach.

This season, opponents' pass completion outside the final third has risen to 83.1%, dropping United to 14th in the league for that metric. This indicates they are less aggressive in disrupting buildup play. Even more concerning is that United only force about 16.7 turnovers in the attacking third per match, ranking them third-worst in the Premier League and ninth-worst across Europe's top five leagues. Simply put, they allow opponents to control possession too easily and fail to win the ball back in dangerous areas.

Defensive Vulnerabilities

The defensive record is stark. United have kept only one clean sheet all season, which came against Azerbaijani side Sabah in the Champions League opener. In seven Premier League games, they have conceded 10 goals without a single shutout. Across all competitions, they have allowed two or more goals in six matches.

Interestingly, their expected goals against (xGA) places them as the fourth-best in limiting chances, suggesting they don’t allow many shots overall. But the quality of the few chances given up is high, and opponents have exploited those opportunities ruthlessly. The four goals conceded at Como only underline the defensive frailties that seem entrenched.

Poor Squad Depth

Certainly, Carrick bears responsibility, but the club’s management has left him with a weak squad. Injuries have piled up: Manuel Ugarte is sidelined long-term with an ACL injury, while Marcus Rashford, Kobbie Mainoo, Luke Shaw, Ayden Heaven, Patrick Dorgu, and Lisandro Martinez missed the Como game due to fitness concerns. Benjamin Sesko recently suffered a fresh injury keeping him out for months.

The bench for the Como fixture included players like Karl Darlow, Tom Heaton, Daniel Armer, Jayden Kamason, Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, and Tynan Thompson, none of whom played. Those who did enter—Carlos Baleba, Amad Diallo, Joshua Zirkzee, Harry Amass, and Shea Lacey—did little to change the course. New signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans started but were unimpressive, with Tielemans drawing criticism for poor form this season.

A few managers might handle such a limited squad well. Carrick managed it last year when the schedule was lighter and European football was absent. Now, with a packed calendar including Champions League matches, the challenges have overwhelmed him.

Who Could Replace Michael Carrick?

If Carrick is dismissed soon, either immediately after the Como loss or following upcoming league games against Bournemouth and Chelsea—which could also go poorly—several candidates have been mentioned as possible replacements.

• Eddie Howe: Currently unemployed after leaving Newcastle in the summer, but no solid reports link him to the job yet.
• Antonio Conte: Experienced in the Premier League but left Tottenham abruptly amid homesickness and personal reasons.
• Julian Nagelsmann: Has only coached in Germany and was recently sacked by the national team following a disappointing World Cup.
• Kieran McKenna: Managed Ipswich Town; would be a first-time big club appointment, carrying risks.

Meanwhile, Gareth Southgate has expressed no interest in returning to club management, and Fabian Hurzeler is unlikely to leave Brighton midseason given their strong start.