Neville questions United’s decision to keep Carrick after Bournemouth defeat

Gary Neville says Manchester United may be keeping Michael Carrick in charge because the club lacks a clear plan for his replacement, after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth left them 16th in the Premier League and one point above the relegation zone.

United have decided Carrick will lead the team at Chelsea on Saturday, despite the loss intensifying pressure on the head coach. Neville, the former United captain, said on the Stick to Football podcast that the club’s decision appeared to follow indecision and a shortage of available alternatives.

“I reckon what’s happened in the 24 hours after Bournemouth is that they’ve literally debated it back and forth,” he said. Neville added that sometimes a manager needs to be sacked “for their own good”, recalling that he was relieved when Valencia dismissed him.

The BBC reported that United’s hierarchy had explored possible replacements, including former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe and ex-Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Carrick is now tasked with preparing the squad for Chelsea, followed by home fixtures against Roma and Aston Villa before the November international break.

Carrick’s position had already come under pressure after captain Bruno Fernandes criticised the team’s tactics following a 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como. Fernandes was left out against Bournemouth, but he and Carrick have since held talks to clear the air.

Neville said Fernandes’s public criticism was likely to represent only a small part of what was being said within the dressing room. Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool defender, suggested Carrick might privately want the club to end his tenure, while Roy Keane said the manager needed the players’ backing more than they needed him.