Will Carrick be sacked immediately and who is leading the race to replace him?

The burning question among Manchester United supporters following yesterday's humiliating display against Como is whether Michael Carrick will be sacked immediately. Social media has been flooded with demands for his dismissal from furious Red Devils fans, and the manager's position has become even more precarious after captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned his tactics post-match. It inevitably begs the question: if Carrick has lost the dressing room, is there any point in keeping him at the helm?

Many believe the tactician already knows his days are numbered. At the final whistle, Carrick bypassed his own players and walked over to apologize to the 700 traveling supporters who made the trip to Italy, holding his hands up in an apologetic gesture. The scene was eerily reminiscent of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reaction following the 4-1 collapse at Watford in November 2021, which saw the Norwegian sacked just 24 hours later. Was this the former midfielder's farewell to the fans?

British media outlets remain skeptical that Carrick's dismissal is imminent. According to Graeme Bailey, any decision will rest with technical director Jason Wilcox, who himself came under fire from Lisandro Martinez following the recent Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. The same report claims that Carrick still retains the backing of Wilcox and co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe for now.

Results in the coming weeks will naturally determine Carrick's fate. Bailey reports that United's next four fixtures will decide the manager's future. This weekend's clash against Bournemouth offers United a prime opportunity to halt their seven-match winless run, given the Cherries' Premier League form this season. However, United have won just one of their last seven encounters against them. Bournemouth claimed consecutive 3-0 victories at Old Trafford in 2023 and 2024, followed by a dramatic 4-4 draw at the Theatre of Dreams last season.

Several sources suggest that anything less than a win against Bournemouth will spell the end for Carrick. Even if they secure three points on Sunday, a grueling schedule awaits: an away trip to Chelsea followed by home fixtures against Roma and Aston Villa. The upcoming international break often serves as the window for managerial changes, and with a daunting trip to Liverpool immediately following the restart, United could well have a new man in the dugout for the blockbuster clash.

This raises the question of who leads the race to succeed Carrick should United pull the trigger. While Antonio Conte was linked in recent weeks, The Daily Telegraph reports that former Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann is currently the frontrunner. The report claims Conte is not a serious candidate as he would not align with the structural framework Old Trafford chiefs are implementing. The Telegraph also underlines that the Bournemouth fixture will be critical. Former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe remains an option, while Brighton's Fabian Hürzeler has also been mentioned, though United would face a hefty compensation fee after the German tactician penned a new three-year deal just months ago.