Manchester United’s crisis has deepened significantly after a crushing 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday. As manager Michael Carrick was warmly applauded by fans while leaving the pitch, a chorus of boos erupted moments later when the players walked off, clearly showing where supporters place the blame for the club’s current situation.
Carrick, a former United midfielder, was given a two-year contract in May after inspiring a remarkable revival following the team’s struggles under Ruben Amorim, securing third place in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League. However, a drastic decline this season is a familiar story for United supporters, who last saw a Premier League title 13 years ago under Alex Ferguson. Carrick, 45, denied that his performance on the pitch on Sunday was a farewell, as he struggles to accept his team’s rapid decline, stressing that “I definitely knew we hadn’t sorted it and there was a lot of work to do, but that doesn’t mean it had to go this way”. His position appears increasingly uncertain, with Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann mentioned as candidates.
Gary Neville, a former United captain, emphasised that fans support Carrick but blame the owners, the sporting department and the players, who have “let this football club down badly”. The club’s problems go far beyond the dugout. The Glazer family still owns the majority of shares, burdening the club with huge debts since their purchase in 2005. Hopes that Jim Ratcliffe’s arrival as minority owner in 2024 would mark a new dawn have faded, as the club’s debt has passed £1.1 billion, despite austerity measures and rising ticket prices.
United, once dominant in the transfer market, lost its biggest names such as Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. In their place, Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos were recruited for around £150 million, none of whom have made a strong impression. Significant divisions have emerged in recent weeks, with Lisandro Martinez criticising sporting director Jason Wilcox and captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioning Carrick’s tactics after the 4-1 defeat to Como. Although Carrick is expected to take the blame, the road back to the top for one of the biggest clubs in the world looks harder than ever, with Neville stressing that “it can’t just be the manager again. There have to be consequences higher up.”
Taken from France 24 Live News