Is Michael Carrick Fighting For His Job As Manchester United Manager?

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 16: Michael Carrick, head coach of Manchester United, looks on during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion at Old Trafford on September 16, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

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For the first 10 minutes of Manchester United’s EFL Cup tie against Brighton, Michael Carrick’s side appeared to be producing the perfect response to what went wrong in last weekend’s Manchester Derby. 2-0 up through goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount, United was cruising.

A positive response was needed after a damaging derby defeat which saw Manchester City leave Old Trafford with all three points despite playing the majority of the match down a player. Carrick was surely satisfied with the start his side made on Wednesday. After that, though, the same old problems emerged.

Manchester United allowed Brighton back into the game, somehow contriving to lose 3-2. There was a lack of intensity against the ball and a lack of urgency in possession. Brighton was the better coached team and had the quality to make it count when it mattered. United crumbled under the pressure.

Carrick’s position as manager is now being questioned. The former midfielder earned the permanent position after an impressive interim period in charge in the second half of last season, but Manchester United has struggled for any sort of traction to start the 2026/27 campaign.

“I don’t feel under pressure,” said Carrick after the defeat to Brighton. “Either way, that doesn’t bother me one bit. I understand what goes on outside and how the world works, but it doesn’t bother me. What bothers me is winning games, having a good feeling around the place and a good feeling around the group to know we’re moving in a good direction.”

The midfield has yet to settle after the summer addition of Carlos Baleba, Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. The forward line has struggled for chemistry with Matheus Cunha desperately out of form and Benjamin Sesko still searching for fitness after recovering from an injury.

Defensively, Manchester United has been vulnerable in almost every match it has played so far this season. Harry Maguire has been a shadow of the player that steadied things at the back in the second half of last season while Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw have been exposed by opposition teams.

It’s clear now that United needed to do more in the summer transfer window. Carrick’s squad isn’t deep enough to handle the number of matches Manchester United will have to play this season and the former midfielder might be the one who pays for this with his job. United has entered a familiar spiral all over again.