Michael Owen Urges Patience as Michael Carrick Faces Manchester United Pressure
Michael Carrick is under growing pressure at Manchester United after a difficult opening to the season, despite the former midfielder having guided the club back into the Champions League places during his first spell in charge. United have taken six points from a possible 18 in the Premier League and now face a demanding run dominated by away fixtures.
Key takeaways
- Carrick signed a two-year Manchester United contract containing an option that could extend his stay until summer 2029.
- United have won twice this season, with the victory over Azerbaijan’s Sabah their only clean sheet.
- A 1-1 draw against 10-man Tottenham brought a visible negative reaction from sections of the Old Trafford crowd.
- United’s next Premier League away fixture is at Leeds United, followed by trips to Como and Chelsea within their next five matches.
- Former United forward Michael Owen believes Carrick has earned more time after last season’s recovery.
From last season’s revival to a troubled start
Carrick returned to the Old Trafford dugout in mid-January after Ruben Amorim’s departure, answering a call from the club where he won five league titles and the Champions League as a player. His early results included notable wins over Arsenal and Manchester City, while United finished third by the end of the campaign to secure a place back in Europe’s leading competition.
That turnaround led United to appoint Carrick permanently on a two-year agreement, with a contractual option for a further extension through 2029. Only eight matches into the new deal, however, the mood has changed markedly.
The side have managed only two wins in all competitions. Sabah are the sole opponents United have prevented from scoring, highlighting persistent defensive problems. There have also been concerns over recruitment and a shortage of established options at centre-forward.
The draw with Tottenham, who played with 10 men, did little to ease those concerns. With United back in the lower half of the Premier League table, Carrick is facing scrutiny from supporters and decision-makers as calls for a rapid improvement in performances and results grow louder.
Owen urges patience before demanding road schedule
Owen said the coming programme will offer Carrick little respite, particularly with four of United’s next five matches away from home. He identified the league trip to Elland Road as a major test, given Leeds’ form and the history between the two clubs.
“Leeds are playing very well,” Owen said, warning that the home side will sense an opportunity in front of an intense crowd. “They’ll smell blood” at Elland Road, he added.
Despite the current pressure, Owen argued that Carrick deserves patience because of the work completed after taking over last season. He felt United had been unfortunate in several recent results, pointing to Everton’s late goal, described as one of the season’s best, and a Manchester derby decision involving VAR that he believed cost the team points.
Owen accepted that United’s display against Tottenham fell short, but said he considers the squad stronger than it has been for several years and capable of delivering a respectable campaign. In his view, external pressure should not obscure Carrick’s achievements since taking charge.
Before the Leeds match, United travel to Spain for a Champions League meeting with Atletico Madrid. They then face Cesc Fabregas’ Como in Italy on October 21, return briefly to Old Trafford to play Bournemouth, and make another away journey to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Whether Carrick remains in charge for that west London fixture may depend on how United respond across the next sequence of matches, with the manager needing to restore confidence among both the fans and the board.
