The three-week international break offered Manchester United a golden opportunity to reset and turn things around after a poor start to the season, but the 1-1 draw with Tottenham Hotspur didn't reassure many.

Despite going into the game bottom of the Premier League, Spurs dominated the opening proceedings, and, were it not for poor finishing, they could have gone into the half-time break one or two goals ahead of the home side.

Michael Carrick won't have much time to dwell on the poor performance, as his side will now travel to the Spanish capital to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on the 13th, who currently sit second in La Liga, having lost just once in the league this season, beating Real Madrid 2-1 along the way.

Ahead of the second gameweek of the Champions League, Manchester United find themselves 4th in the league phase after a dominant 4-0 win over Champions League newcomers Sabah, and will hope to bounce back from their league struggles with a strong performance against the Spanish giants.

With Manchester United picking up just six points from their opening six games, the club has recorded its worst start to a league season in 40 years, with one win, three draws, and two losses.

United now sit 13th in the table and face a crucial run-in to end October, as the club will play five games in 19 days, with pressure on Carrick mounting after the side's dismal start to the campaign.

As reported by Football Insider, former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is interested in the prospect of managing United, with the English manager currently on a break from football after leaving Newcastle in the summer.

The outlet reports that Howe ticks two big boxes for the United hierarchy, given his extensive experience in both the Premier League and the Champions League. Sources indicate Howe is in no rush to return to club management, but would be tempted if a big club came calling.

All sources indicate that, despite the club's poor start to the season, the club have no immediate plans to sack Michael Carrick, but is said to be weighing up possible contingency plans if results continue to be an issue.

Given his success in the second half of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, INEOS believe Carrick has credit in the bank and will be given time to attempt to turn things around at Old Trafford.

Over the past few seasons, Manchester United have been quiet in the winter transfer window, but reports now indicate that the club won't wait until next summer to start their defensive overhaul and is set to target several defensive additions in the January window.

Several of United's defensive options have struggled at the start of the season, with Lisandro Martinez, Harry Maguire, and Luke Shaw all in the final year of their contracts.