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Man United dressing room's response to Michael Carrick not being sacked
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- Man United dressing room's response to Michael Carrick not being sacked
Michael Carrick has lost the support of the dressing room at Manchester United and will be sacked if he does not get it back immediately.
That is the opinion of experienced former Everton, Tottenham and Aston Villa scout, Bryan King, speaking exclusively to Football Insider.
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The 45-year-old has been handed time to turn things around at Old Trafford - an unexpected development after Sunday's embarrassing defeat.
Man United were smashed 3-0 by Bournemouth, marking an eighth consecutive game without victory across all competitions.
The likes of Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte have been linked with the job if Carrick is sacked, but he is set to remain in charge for now.
Man United are playing 'relegation football'
It remains to be seen if Carrick can coax a recovery out of his team, but his task is certainly not getting any easier.
A trip to Chelsea on Saturday comes next and is followed by games against Roma, Aston Villa and Liverpool at Anfield.
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Should Carrick still be in charge following that run of fixtures, then he has performed a miracle.
"You would say 'Champions League? It's relegation football'. I think you know you're in trouble when your best player's sitting on the bench," King told Football Insider.
"I think Michael Carrick has been an exceptional footballer for Manchester United, for West Ham, for England. I thought he was very brave to go in.
"They say that you should never return to a football club where you've been a star name, and he was certainly a star name. He was brave enough to go in, led them to good results at the end of the season.
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"Very similar to [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer, really. A lot of promise, but no real experience to win anything. And the biggest problem this season has been that he's obviously lost the dressing room. And there will be plenty in there not happy that he is still the manager."
Michael Carrick in 'sit-down talks' with Bruno Fernandes as Man United exit looms What must Carrick do to save Man United job?
In talks with decision-makers at Old Trafford, Carrick must have provided confidence that he can turn around his side's form.
That is the only possible reason that the Englishman still has his job, although there has been suggestions that Man United's financial situation has made it an easier choice.
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Carrick must now find a solution and he will hope that Saturday's trip to Chelsea provides his team with a clean slate.
More of the same, and those above him will have no choice but to clear out the dugout.
