Michael Carrick is facing a difficult start to the 2026/27 season after helping Manchester United secure third place in the Premier League last term.
United’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United on Sunday left them 13th in the standings, with just one victory from their opening seven league matches. The club has also been eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
The result followed a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur and a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, extending United’s run of disappointing performances.
Reuters described the club’s league position as a stark contrast to last season’s third-place finish.
Carrick acknowledged that his team had not consistently demonstrated the quality expected of them, particularly when in possession.
“Maybe if you talk about top quality, maybe it wasn’t top, top quality I think we are capable of playing,” he said, according to Reuters.
United Record Just Two Wins in Their First 10 Matches
United have won only twice in their first 10 matches across all competitions, defeating Ipswich Town 5-2 in the Premier League and Azerbaijani side Sabah 4-0 in the Champions League.
Their other results included a 2-0 defeat to Hull City, a 2-2 draw against Everton, a 1-0 loss to Manchester City, a 1-1 draw at Fulham, a 3-2 defeat to Brighton, a 1-1 draw against Tottenham, a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid and Sunday’s draw at Leeds.
In the Premier League, United have collected seven points from seven matches, recording one win, four draws and two defeats.
The results have prevented Carrick’s side from establishing the momentum that helped them qualify for the Champions League last season.
Brighton Comeback Ends United’s Carabao Cup Campaign
United’s Carabao Cup exit came on September 16, when Brighton overturned a two-goal deficit to win 3-2 at Old Trafford.
Shea Lacey and Mason Mount scored within the opening 10 minutes to put the hosts in control.
However, Charalampos Kostoulas reduced Brighton’s deficit before half-time, before Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper scored in the second half to complete the comeback.
The defeat ended United’s participation in the competition and removed one opportunity for Carrick’s team to challenge for domestic silverware.
Their subsequent league performances have continued to raise questions about whether the club can maintain the progress achieved during the previous campaign.
Carrick’s Appointment Transformed United’s Previous Campaign
Carrick took interim charge of United in January 2026 following Ruben Amorim’s dismissal.
At the time, the club was seeking greater consistency after finishing 15th in the 2024/25 Premier League season, its lowest league position in decades.
Carrick’s first major tests came against Manchester City and Arsenal. United defeated City 2-0 at Old Trafford before recording a 3-2 victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
Those results helped establish the foundation for an improvement that continued through the second half of the season.
United subsequently recorded victories against Fulham, Tottenham, Everton, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford and Liverpool, among other opponents.
According to BBC Sport and Reuters, Carrick won 11 of his first 16 matches in charge by the time United secured third place in May.
He then oversaw a 3-0 league victory against Brighton following his permanent appointment, taking his final record for the season to 12 wins, three draws and two defeats in 17 Premier League matches.
The results secured Champions League qualification after United had spent two seasons away from the competition.
Tactical Changes Helped Deliver Last Season’s Improvement
Carrick’s revival included changes to United’s formation and midfield structure.
BBC Sport reported that he moved away from Amorim’s three-at-the-back system, deployed captain Bruno Fernandes in a more advanced position and restored Kobbie Mainoo alongside Casemiro in midfield.
The former United midfielder also made relatively few changes to his starting line-up during his first 10 matches, helping the team develop greater consistency in selection.
United collected 23 points from those opening 10 league matches under Carrick, the highest total in the Premier League over that period, according to BBC Sport.
The victories against Manchester City and Arsenal were particularly important in demonstrating the team’s ability to compete against leading opponents.
United confirmed Carrick’s permanent appointment on May 22. Director of football Jason Wilcox said the former midfielder had “thoroughly earned the opportunity to continue leading our men’s team”, Reuters reported.
Permanent Role Brings Different Expectations
Carrick’s responsibilities have changed this season after he was given a full pre-season and the task of building on United’s third-place finish.
During his interim spell, his immediate objective was to stabilise the team and secure European qualification. As permanent head coach, he is now expected to maintain that progress throughout a full campaign.
However, the opening results have left United with just two wins across all competitions, an early cup exit and several draws that have restricted their progress in the league.
Reuters also highlighted shortcomings in possession and from set-pieces following the Leeds draw, although Carrick praised his players’ discipline and togetherness.
The manager must now find a way to translate the organisation and resilience that characterised last season’s revival into more consistent performances.
Lisandro Martínez Dispute Adds to United’s Problems
Carrick’s difficult start has also coincided with a public disagreement involving defender Lisandro Martínez and the club’s leadership.
Following United’s 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, Martínez criticised the club’s recruitment and called for greater investment. He also said he expected more from director of football Jason Wilcox.
Carrick initially declined to comment in detail, saying he had not watched the interview.
Martínez later expressed regret over the timing of his remarks and apologised. PUNCH Online reported on October 16 that United had fined the defender.
Carrick subsequently confirmed that the matter had been resolved and that the squad had moved on.
The incident brought renewed attention to United’s recruitment strategy, with Martínez questioning whether the squad had been strengthened sufficiently after last season’s third-place finish.
His criticism has added another issue to the scrutiny surrounding Carrick’s start, although it has not been established as the sole explanation for the team’s results.
Carrick Faces Pressure to Restore United’s Form
United’s early-season struggles have created a contrast with the performances that secured Champions League football last term.
The club is already out of the Carabao Cup and remains 13th in the Premier League after seven matches, leaving Carrick with the task of improving results across the remaining competitions.
His record of 12 wins in 17 league matches last season demonstrated the improvement United achieved under his leadership.
The challenge now is to reproduce that consistency and close the gap between last season’s progress and the difficulties that have marked the opening weeks of the 2026/27 campaign.
