Manchester United have been urged to back Michael Carrick through the current struggles at Old Trafford following a tough start to the 2026/27 campaign.
Manchester United have made a disappointing start to their Premier League campaign, with Michael Carrick’s side currently sitting 12th in the table.
United have picked up just one league win so far, a dramatic 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town, while draws against Hull City, Everton, Manchester City and Fulham have seen them drop valuable points.
After ending last season in impressive form, the Reds have struggled to carry that momentum into the new campaign. Carrick’s side now have plenty of work to do if they are to turn things around when domestic football returns next month.
Results have inevitably brought upon questions about Carrick and whether he is the right man for the job, however, some believe that it is too soon to judge the ex-midfielder after his side's terrific form last season.
United cannot panic with Carrick
Despite some rumours surrounding Carrick's position, reliable reports have assured that the United hierarchy remain confident in their head coach.
That is a stance that ex-England manager Chris Waddle agrees with. He suggests that it is too early for United to 'press the panic' button and they should instead be giving Carrick more time to turn things around.
“It's very easy to press the panic button because fans are grumbling. It's very easy to press the panic button and say, ‘Get a new manager in, that'll take the pressure off the club for a couple of months," Waddle told Betpack.
“No, stick with him. Michael Carrick did well last season. He's had a few sticky results at the start of this season, but it doesn't mean he's a bad manager. He had them in the Champions League places last year.
“You've just played a few games. You're not going to win every game. It's amazing. I feel for managers like Michael Carrick already. You read things and it's all: ‘He's going to get the sack next week if he doesn't win.’ I just don't get it. It's easy to write headlines. They're a big club, but last year everybody was singing his praises. Give him time.”
Despite some poor results this season, Carrick still boasts an impressive record as United boss over his two spells. Overall, he has led the team to 15 wins, six draws and five defeats.
Carrick must fix his defensive issues
Most United fans are going to give Carrick grace, mainly because they feel that he was not backed enough by the board in the latest summer transfer market.
The defensive problems at Old Trafford are clear for anyone to see and that is making life more difficult for the club legend and his coaching staff.
However, there are other things that fall at Carrick's feet; his in-game management has been questionable and there remain big question marks over his ability to coach a top-level press at Old Trafford.
He will need to deal with those kind of issues, even if he is slightly handicapped by the lack of summer additions in areas other than midfield, otherwise the noise around his position will grow.
But the positive part is that Carrick knows all of this; he has been around the building as a player and knows all about the pressures that come with the job, and that will hopefully help him overcome hurdles.
