Man Utd receive brutal next manager warning

13 Oct 2026 18:01 BST 2 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

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Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has warned his former club of the perils of sacking another manager amid rumours that Michael Carrick’s job is under threat.

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Carrick, 35, was appointed on a permanent basis over the summer, following a hugely successful interim stint last term, but he has overseen Man Utd’s worst start to a league season for 40 years.

The Red Devils are currently 13th in the Premier League table with just six points from their opening six fixtures, and they face Leeds United, Bournemouth, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool in their next five English top flight matches.

Pressure is beginning to mount on Carrick and while reports have confirmed that he is safe for now, he is the bookies’ favourite to become the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season, alongside Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa.

Eddie Howe has been heavily linked with the job after leaving Newcastle United ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, while former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur head coach Antonio Conte is also reportedly interested in a possible Old Trafford move.

However, Scholes has urged Man Utd to retain faith in Carrick, despite their poor start to the season.

© IMAGO - Michael Carrick is under pressure at Man Utd

Man Utd next manager warning

“We’ve been here for the last three years,” Scholes said on the latest episode of The Good, The Bad & The Football.

“We look like it looks like or the sound it sounds like, they’re going to change the manager again. How can we keep doing this? We’re back to square one after six games of the season.

“When do you stop sacking managers and start blaming people above, the people who are possibly buying the players, the people who are pointing at Michael?”

When asked if Man Utd should hire Fabian Hurzeler, who has guided Brighton & Hove Albion to third-place in the Premier League table, Scholes added: “He’s done great. He looks the real deal, but again, Man Utd is different. The scrutiny is on you every single week.

“If Brighton didn’t win a game for the next 10 games, nobody would really be that bothered.

“The one thing that someone like Hurzeler has got over Michael is that he’s done a body of work in the Premier League. Michael did okay in Middlesbrough with what he had. I think Middlesbrough were probably expecting more with the budget they had.

“There’s a bit of me when you look at Michael because I know him; Michael’s a nice lad. Is there a bit of him that’s thinking, ‘Get me out of here. Get me out of here, I’ll take a few quid’.”

Carrick’s next test will come when Man Utd face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, before a trip to Elland Road to play old rivals Leeds United on Sunday.