‘Really struggling’: Great wants Man U boss ‘put out of his misery’
Gary Neville believes some managers need sacking “for their own good”, with his former teammate, Manchester United’s Michael Carrick now in that boat.
It has been a worrying start to the new season for Carrick and United, sitting one point above the relegation zone with just one win on their record so far.
Michael Carrick could not hide his disappointment after losing to Como. AP Photo/Antonio Calanni
Pressure has been mounting on Carrick to deliver a promising run like the one he produced when he first joined the team in January as an interim manager, going on to win 70 per cent of games for the 2025/26 season to secure a third-place finish.
Things have not continued on that trajectory this season, with a troubling 3-0 loss to Bournemouth on Monday (AEDT) prompting calls for his axing. United have ignored those calls for now, granting him at least one more game to turn things around.
Neville believes Carrick has already completed his “farewell lap” at Old Trafford, with a chant of the manger’s name ringing around after the Bournemouth shocker.
Carrick applauded the crowd as the chant went on, with the fans then turning on the players after the manager walked down the tunnel, the cheers turning into a chorus of boos.
Neville feels that Carrick’s job was only saved by United’s hierarchy getting “into a muddle” while debating whether he should stay on or not.
“I think staying with him is a result of the lack of planning,” the United great said on the Stick to Football podcast.
“The lack of probably available options, the lack of decision-making around the two people that probably are available – that’s when you’re really struggling.
“Sometimes a manager needs sacking for their own good. I needed sacking at Valencia. I was happy that they put me out of my misery.”
Carrick has not only received criticism from pundits this season with captain Bruno Fernandes stepping out to flame the team’s tactics after a 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League last week.
Fernandes was consequently dropped for the club’s loss to Bournemouth and has since had talks with his manager to clear the air about his brutal assessment.
Neville believes seeing a captain openly come out against a manager proves Carrick’s standing in the dressing room is not overly positive.
“If Bruno Fernandes comes out and questions the manager’s tactics ... he’s been playing like a drain for three months and the rest of them have as well,” he said.
“That is only one or two per cent of what they’re actually saying internally.”
The likes of former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann have been floated as possible replacements for Carrick.
Carrick has already lost the support of his team’s captain. Getty Images
But like Neville, Liverpool great Jamie Carragher believes that Carrick should part ways with the English giants.
“He can never say it publicly, but I think he would want to be put out his misery,” Carragher added. “The thought of going into that training ground and trying to do a team talk when you know the players aren’t having it at all ... they know he is not going to be there in two or three weeks. He knows it, they know it, everybody knows.”
Roy Keane admitted without the players onside, Carrick will struggle. But the team must remember that they were the ones “who got him the job last year”.
United will make the trip to London to face Chelsea at 11.30pm AEDT on Sunday.
