Unwatchable - The 83 seconds that could cost Carrick his job

The rot goes beyond Carrick but keeping him feels cruel

Already under huge pressure, United’s head coach surely can’t survive this loss

1 Nov 2026 - TH OBSERVER / Sport

Jessy Parker Humphreys Stamford Bridge

Manchester United celebrated the denouement of Celebrity Traitors on Friday night by playing their own version at Stamford Bridge. Lisandro Martínez was the obvious pick for traitor as he trudged off the pitch after two yellow-card offences in the space of 83 seconds, the latter a reckless challenge on Wesley Fofana which earned Chelsea a penalty.

Catherine Ivill/Getty - Head loss: Manchester United’s Martínez 

is sent off after receiving two yellow cards in four minutes.

Bruno Fernandes also showed he could take on the role. After stabbing his head coach in the front by publicly criticising his tactics in an interview with TNT Sports after their 4-1 defeat to Como, he seemed to believe stabbing him in the back might be more effective. Despite the “clear the air” talks with Michael Carrick this week, after he was dropped to the bench in their loss against Bournemouth, the act of blazing the ball over the bar when through on goal in the first half was one of pure revenge.

Fofana looked like the only player on the pitch who wanted Carrick to keep his job, so generous was he with doling out opportunities for the opposition.

It is not the first time that United's players have been mutinous. In a recent interview with the Athletic, former United head coach Erik ten Hag suggested that United's 2-1 loss to West Ham, which saw him relieved of his duties, was in part a result of his players knowing that he was going regardless.

It was Diogo Dalot who missed a big chance on that day. The idea of a secret plot from players to oust their managers is titillating but the truth would be far more prosaic – when everyone knows it's only a matter of time, it is hard to feel motivated.

Yet it seems Carrick does have time. He clearly retains support from the United faithful and, maybe more bemusingly, the United board. Fans have taken to applauding Carrick and booing the players with the United hierarchy. The decision to keep Carrick feels like a last-gasp attempt to keep the fans on side. But United's managerial scheme for former players is creaking as the team reach nine games without a win.

Neither team looked particularly impressive. Xabi Alonso did his best to placate his own fanbase by starting 19-year-old winger Estêvão, but if Alonso had wanted to prove the veracity of his comments that his absence from Chelsea games was due to “the process to learn things with the ball, against the ball, how to be more competitive”, this was not the game for it. The Brazilian looked electric throughout, twice having goals ruled out for offside.

Alonso later revealed that he had decided after the 2-0 loss to Tottenham last weekend that Estêvão would start. “He has had the best response to show that he deserves more,” he said. “It's a good day for him.”

With both teams being very open it was just a question of who would have the quality to take advantage. Morgan Rogers proved the man for the job as he glided through United's defence with minimal effort before finishing. Cole Palmer added the second from the spot 14 minutes later and no one thought there would be a comeback. Alonso's Chelsea look tactically chaotic but the quality of the attackers in his team are ensuring they keep picking up points.

At full-time, Carrick once again walked over to applaud the away fans. There was a slow clap and a wave, as he did after Bournemouth. Once again the fans booed the players when they did the same. Every time it feels certain it must be the last time but every time it turns out not to be.

The (current/former – delete as appropriate depending on when you are reading) United head coach cut a morose, monosyllabic figure in his press conference. “There's no words I can say to you that are going to change that,” he said when asked about the possibility of United finishing the day in the relegation zone. It would be the first time since 1986 that they have been there after August. “[We've] got to keep moving forwards and winning football games. Simple as that.” Well, apparently not. He was then asked if there was a stigma around being in the relegation zone. “No, not for me.”

Plenty of people have made the point recently that Carrick is in some ways the least of United's problems. They are saddled with huge amounts of debt as a result of the leveraged buyout from the Glazers. That limits their financial capacity, which is a blessing in disguise given how poorly they choose to spend. The £115 million midfield of Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba was on full display to little effect. The £35m Youri Tielemans (a “ridiculous bargain” according to Rio Ferdinand) did not make it off the bench. Their director of football once appointed Russell Martin to a managerial role.

The rot goes far beyond Carrick as head coach. But at this point it also feels like cruelty to keep him in the role. Nicky Butt revealed on a podcast that Carrick had had reservations about returning to management after he had been sacked by Middlesbrough. Now he is seemingly in a hostage situation.

United's train down to London had to be held at Stockport for seven minutes after they got stuck in traffic on the way to the station. Carrick was probably wishing it would just leave without him.