Michael Carrick's future as Manchester United manager is under major threat following the home loss to Bournemouth on Sunday. The Red Devils lost 3-0 as their poor start to the season continued - they have won just one of their eight Premier League matches so far and sit 16th - 14 points off the top. Carrick, 45, took interim charge in January following Ruben Amorim's departure and he was rewarded with the permanent job in May after securing Champions League qualification with an impressive run that resulted in them finishing third.
But United have not won in the top flight since 30 August, when they defeated newly promoted Ipswich 5-2. "It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from it," Carrick told Sky Sports after the Bournemouth loss. "What it looks like and what's next I really don't know.
"I will always do my best for the football club and I won't change that now. I love what I do and I feel the responsibility - we'll have to wait and see." Carrick made a big call on Sunday by dropping his captain Bruno Fernandes to the bench. That decision came after the Portugal midfielder questioned Carrick's tactics in Wednesday's 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League.
The comments from Fernandes came in the wake of defender Lisandro Martinez issuing an apology following his controversial remarks criticising the club's hierarchy. Martinez said he had expected more investment in the Manchester United squad and "more from our technical director [Jason Wilcox]". Bournemouth beat Man Utd to increase pressure on Carrick Fernandes left out - Man Utd hammered, Bournemouth brilliant - how they rated Fernandes left on bench for Man Utd defeat - a failed gamble?
Carrick made 464 appearances for Manchester United in a playing career at the club that spanned 12 years. As a consequence, he remains a popular figure among the fans, who chanted his song at full-time in the loss to Bournemouth as he did a lap of the pitch to applaud the supporters. "It wasn't a farewell from me," he added.
"I've mixed emotions, I'm feeling it for my players, they're going through a tough spell. Some of it we can help, some of it the situation unravels and the boys are feeling it at the moment. "Mixed emotions for the supporters to respond in that way.
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