Manchester United head coach Carrick in trouble ahead of Atletico Madrid and Leeds week
A nightmare week awaits at the Metropolitano and Elland Road
Michael Carrick faces the biggest week of his Manchester United career to date, with two daunting away fixtures threatening to define his reign as head coach. United travel to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night before a trip to in-form Leeds United, who only lost their unbeaten record to reigning champions Arsenal on Saturday.
The pressure comes after a dismal run of form. United have failed to win five of their last six games in all competitions, the latest a 1-1 draw at home to 10-man Tottenham Hotspur, who snatched a late equaliser through Dominic Solanke.
Writing in his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson warned that Carrick's position is already under threat.
"After Saturday's game, I'd more worried if you're a Man Utd fan. I've seen signs with Tottenham that things can improve, there's something there. I haven't seen any signs with Man Utd at the moment. Now, Michael Carrick is in trouble over the next two games. I hope he doesn't get the sack, but he's in trouble. It's a nightmare week for him. I couldn't think of two worse games - and I don't think they're going to win either of them."
Merson pointed to the difficulty of facing Atletico at their own ground — "a very difficult team to play against and beat. They don't let in a lot of goals" — before the short trip across the Pennines to Elland Road.
"Then you go to Leeds, who's one of Man Utd's champion enemies. This is a big, big, big football match. A big rivalry. And it's one of Leeds' biggest games. And if you're a Leeds fan, after the weekend, you'd be shocked if Man Utd beat them at Elland Road. Every Leeds fan would be disappointed if they didn't get a result against Man Utd this weekend. Now that's a big swing in football."
Questions over Carrick's management
Merson questioned whether Carrick has the solutions to arrest the slump, having previously called for the club to appoint a manager of greater experience.
"I've always said the same thing about Carrick. When they were playing well last season and he got them into the Champions League, everyone was saying: give him the job, give him the job. But what I wanted to see was how he'd react when they go three or four games without a win. It's alright when you're winning every week. You're all in, you're on a crest of a wave. Ask any manager, it's easy when you're rolling. But how was Carrick going to handle the pressure? What was he going to do differently? We're seeing that now. It doesn't seem like he is coming up with the ideas to get out of it."
The former Arsenal midfielder argued United should have pursued Unai Emery and suggested Eddie Howe or Antonio Conte as possible candidates, though he admitted uncertainty over what the club's owners want from the role.
Carrick is no stranger to scrutiny at Old Trafford. He first found himself in the media's "crisis" crosshairs on 20 September 2026, after United capitulated from 2-0 up against Brighton in the Milk Cup, with a daunting trip to Fulham to follow.
United's immediate fate now rests on two results that could yet define Carrick's future.