Nobody Is Talking About Man Utd Star Who Can Save Carrick’s Job

Michael Carrick’s job at Manchester United is under serious threat.

The Red Devils are 16th in the Premier League table, just one point above the relegation zone after eight games of the new season. They have won just once in the top flight and are currently on an eight-game streak without a win in all competitions.

There were serious discussions about Carrick’s future at the club following a humiliating 4-1 defeat by Como in the UEFA Champions League last week and they followed that up with an equally embarrassing 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.

Carrick will be in charge for the trip to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, after Manchester United chiefs held crisis talks on Monday and Tuesday about the manager’s position.

Carrick took training as usual on Tuesday at Carrington, with the team preparing for a trip to west London. The former midfielder and players will be given the opportunity to turn things around, with INEOS opting against making an immediate change.

The boss has also held clear-the-air talks with captain Bruno Fernandes, after the Portuguese’s outburst in the wake of the Como defeat and subsequent dropping to the bench for the game with Bournemouth. He is expected to return to the starting lineup against the Blues.

Manchester United man has barely played under Michael Carrick

REUTERS/Chris Radburn

There are a number of other big calls Carrick has to make when it comes to his starting XI to face Chelsea as he looks to get the formula right to secure all three points that would be priceless, not only for the club, but for the manager as he looks to keep hold of his job.

One player nobody is talking about could be crucial to that coming true.

United have missed Matthijs de Ligt in the heart of their defence for most of this season so far and much of last season. In fact, de Ligt has only played 79 minutes of football under Carrick, and they came in that fateful night by Lake Como.

Key Events Timeline

• November 2021 — Carrick took caretaker charge of Manchester United after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s sacking.
• October 2022 — Appointed Middlesbrough head coach, replacing the sacked Chris Wilder at the Riverside.
• June 2025 — Middlesbrough sacked Carrick after a 10th-placed finish missed the play-offs.
• January 2026 — Named Manchester United interim manager until season’s end, following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.
• May 2026 — Handed permanent head coach role on a two-year contract until 2028.

They were his first minutes under Carrick, having been sidelined with a back injury since before the Englishman replaced Ruben Amorim in the dugout in January.

Prior to suffering that back injury, de Ligt’s form was not too bad under Amorim. The Dutchman played the full 90 minutes in every single Premier League match up until the injury, generally playing in the middle of a back three with Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro either side of him, although there were a few occasions where Harry Maguire played instead of Yoro.

Of those 13 matches, United won six, drawing three and losing four – with two of those four defeats coming against Arsenal and Manchester City, the two teams who fought it out for the Premier League title last season.

In his first game back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and in his first appearance under Carrick against Como, de Ligt was naturally a bit rusty, having not played for 11 months.

The 27-year-old was handed a 5/10 rating by the Manchester Evening News in their post-match player ratings, which was actually the joint second-highest score of any United player who started the match, suggesting that, despite his lack of game time, he still offered something to the team, when everyone else was struggling.

Handing de Ligt another start, after watching his defence crumble against the Cherries on Sunday, could be just what Carrick needs to save his job at Old Trafford, because another defeat could be the final nail in the coffin.