Gary Neville: Man Utd should sack Carrick 'for his own good' — what it means before Chelsea
Gary Neville says Manchester United should have put Michael Carrick 'out of his misery', comparing it to his own time at Valencia. United are 16th and eight games without a win, but Carrick will be in charge at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Manchester United have backed Michael Carrick for now. Gary Neville thinks they got it wrong. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, the former United captain said the club should have sacked Carrick "for his own good" after the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
What Neville said
"Sometimes a manager needs sacking for their own good," Neville said. He compared it to his own short spell as Valencia coach in 2015-16: "I needed sacking at Valencia. I was happy that they put me out of my misery."
He believes the decision to keep Carrick came from indecision rather than conviction. "I reckon what's happened in the 24 hours after Bournemouth is that they've literally debated it back and forth," he said, blaming "the lack of planning" and a lack of ready options.
How bad is it?
| League position | 16th, 7 points after eight games |
| Run | Eight games without a win in all competitions |
| Recent results | Lost 4-1 to Como (Champions League), lost 3-0 at home to Bournemouth |
| Next game | Chelsea (A), Saturday 31 October, 12:30 UK (20:30 Beijing) |
United have not gone nine games without a win this century. The Bournemouth defeat was the low point — see Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth.
Why United kept him
Carrick was widely reported to be close to losing his job after Bournemouth, and names including Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe were linked in the media. In the end the club decided to keep him, at least for the Chelsea game — see Carrick to stay for Chelsea. The club have not set out publicly how long that backing lasts.
Neville's point is that a manager kept on without full support is in an impossible position: every result is a referendum.
What Carrick has to work with
There is some good news. Kobbie Mainoo returned to training on Wednesday after missing four games, Lisandro Martínez is fit, and Bruno Fernandes is expected back in the starting XI. But Benjamin Šeško, Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte and Patrick Dorgu are out, and Marcus Rashford is a big doubt with a hip problem. The full team news is in our Chelsea v Man Utd preview.
Chelsea will have Cole Palmer back after his suspension, but not the injured João Pedro.
Why Saturday matters
Stamford Bridge is a hard place to stop a run. Chelsea have scored 17 goals in their last five home games, though they have conceded in every one. A point would at least end the losing streak; a ninth game without a win would make Neville's argument for him.
FAQ
What did Gary Neville say about Carrick? That Manchester United should have sacked him "for his own good", comparing it to his own time at Valencia, where he said he "needed sacking".
Is Michael Carrick still Man Utd manager? Yes. The club decided to keep him after the Bournemouth defeat, and he will manage the team at Chelsea on Saturday.
Where are Man Utd in the table? 16th, with 7 points from eight games.
Who has been linked with the Man Utd job? Media reports have mentioned Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Eddie Howe. None of them has been confirmed as a candidate by the club.
