Manchester United sacks Michael Carrick, eyes Pochettino as replacement

Manchester United have sacked their manager, Michael Carrick, after a string of poor outings that plunged the club into the Premier League relegation zone.

The English tactician was relieved of his duties despite guiding the team to a third-place finish and Champions League qualification last season.

The Red Devils have recorded their worst start to a top-flight campaign in 40 years, leaving the team languishing in the relegation zone. The Red Devils have secured just one victory in 10 league matches, conceding 19 goals and sitting 18th on the log. Across all competitions, the team has suffered heavy defeats, shipping 30 goals to hold the worst defensive record in Europe’s top five leagues.

Mauricio Pochettino, the current head coach of the United States national team, is set to take over the Old Trafford dugout. The club is expected to pay a $10 million release clause to secure the Argentine ahead of their upcoming away clash against Liverpool on November 22.

Carrick’s exit follows a chaotic 4-4 draw against Aston Villa on Sunday, where the team fought back from an early two-goal deficit. Prior to that, United suffered a humiliating 4-1 battering at the hands of Como in the UEFA Champions League, alongside consecutive domestic losses to Bournemouth and Chelsea.

The struggles of the team were compounded by internal discord, with senior players publicly criticising the technical staff and club hierarchy. The club’s captain Bruno Fernandes, taking a swipe at the tactical setup, faulted the defensive strategy of the team.

“It’s a decision from the staff to not press man to man and sometimes leave space behind and try to get the ball, but sometimes when you give too much the ball to these teams they get confidence.”

Defender Lisandro Martinez also expressed his dissatisfaction with the club’s transfer business following an earlier loss to Atletico Madrid.  

“We had a fantastic season last season and now we expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete.”

Despite the sack, aggrieved fans have maintained their protests against the American owners, the Glazer family, and minority shareholder Jim Ratcliffe. The club’s management, however, has urged calm and reiterated its commitment to restoring stability at Old Trafford.