Manchester United were improved but still winless at Leeds United after a dire week for the club which has left the sack looming over Michael Carrick
Manchester United were better but still not up to the challenge against Leeds United on Sunday as a dire week for Michael Carrick ended on a more optimistic note. The Red Devils travelled to Elland Road with Leeds the bookies’ favourite to beat their fierce rivals.
It was a sign of just how bad United’s start to the season has been, with just two wins against Ipswich Town and Sabah coming in nine games, before they headed across the Pennines.
Leeds have been in good form too. Daniel Farke’s side tasted defeat for only the first time this season last weekend against Arsenal at the Emirates. A point and an improved performance from United’s 2-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League would have been a decent day in isolation.
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And that’s exactly what United got, but having held the lead at half-time through Bryan Mbeumo’s finish and looking the more likely to win the game at the end, it’s a point that doesn’t ease any pressure on Carrick.
United’s miserable run of results and performances was thrown even further into the spotlight by Lisandro Martinez’s comments aimed at the board over a lack of summer spending, raising questions over how much control Carrick has of his dressing room – heightened by United players reportedly being told not to speak to the press after the Leeds game.
Gary Neville raised concerns about his former team-mates’ job security after the Leeds draw, saying: “If they’re 13th in January, he’s got a problem because then you are what you are, whereas I think it’s still early enough, seven points from seven games, to say, ‘Okay, still early in the season’; you can’t say that after 15 games.
“It has to change in the next few weeks: Bournemouth is really important, and Chelsea away, and how he manages the games in between that.”
But January is way too long for United’s board to be sitting on their hands if Carrick is still only just ticking over. The Reds play Como, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Roma and Aston Villa before the international break in three weeks – that is make-or-break time for the 45-year-old.
If United fail to pick up at least four points against their two Italian opponents in the Champions League then they can wave goodbye to a top eight finish, or even a top 16 spot and the chance of a more favourable home draw in the second-leg of the play-off.
Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday is vital. The Cherries picked up their long-awaited first league win of the season over a dreadful Sunderland side at the weekend, yet they are without their best player Alex Scott.
Failure to win that match is unthinkable if Carrick wants to retain his job – he has to be handed his P45 if his side fail to beat Como or Bournemouth.
Even if United do win, entertainers Chelsea and the back-in-form Villa before the international break are two clubs they will hope to finish above come the end of the season.
United must spark their season into life by November 8 by beating Villa at Old Trafford, or Carrick will have zero excuse to see the other side of the two-week international break and be in the dugout at Anfield to face Liverpool on