Manchester United have once again settled into a familiar pattern, with Michael Carrick now carrying the burden of a club still searching for stability. As has often happened in the years since Sir Alex Ferguson left, early encouragement has given way to mounting concern.

Supporters may continue to point their frustration in other directions, but the manager remains the figure most likely to absorb the consequences when standards drop. Ruben Amorim understood that reality, even if his own failings at the club were more obvious. He is now in Milan, working to rebuild his reputation after leaving Old Trafford at the start of the year.

Amorim’s time in charge ended with one of the poorest records in modern United history. The question now is whether Carrick, whose own numbers have declined sharply this season, is in danger of sliding beneath that already low benchmark.

The comparison is instructive. Amorim oversaw 63 matches, winning 25 and losing 23, with a 39.7% win rate. Carrick, by contrast, has managed 33 games so far, collecting 16 wins, eight draws and nine defeats, which leaves him on 48.5%.

Amorim’s broader tenure lasted 14 months and included a strong run to the 2025 Europa League final, where United beat Athletic Club in the last four before losing to Tottenham Hotspur in the showpiece. Yet his Premier League record was weaker, with only 15 wins from 47 games and a league win rate of 31.9%.

Carrick’s early spell as interim boss in late 2021 went better, with two wins and a draw from three matches after Ole Gunnar Solskjær departed. Later, after taking over from Amorim in January, no team earned more points from the moment he returned to the Old Trafford touchline until the end of the season than United. They won 12 of 17.

That has not carried over into 2026/27. United have won only two of 13 matches, against newly promoted Ipswich Town and Champions League debutants Sabah. Carrick’s win rate has dropped to 15.4%, while their goal difference stands at -7 after three successive defeats by a combined eight goals.

The warning signs were visible last season. The Guardian reported that United earned 12.7 more points than expected under Carrick, with eight one-goal wins suggesting a run that was difficult to sustain. That fragility has now been exposed. A 2-0 defeat to Chelsea stretched their winless run to nine games, their worst such spell since October and November 1988.

Erik ten Hag has again delivered a pointed assessment of Cristiano Ronaldo, repeating his view that the forward’s reputation for relentless professionalism does not match what he saw later in his career.

Speaking on ESPN’s Goedemorgen Eredivisie program, the former Manchester United manager said Ronaldo “hasn’t been able to deliver” at the level associated with the game’s elite for several years. Ten Hag also argued that the decline was visible before the striker returned to Manchester United in 2021.

Ronaldo’s standing has long rested on discipline and self-improvement. As a teenager at Sporting CP, he would sneak into the club gym at night for extra sessions, a habit that helped shape a career which first took him to Manchester United in 2003.

At Old Trafford, Ronaldo himself has spoken about the standards he absorbed. “Everything was a lesson for me,” he would tell The Times years later. “[Being at United] taught me to train hard all the time … to eat properly, sleep good, recovery sessions, everything. You have to dedicate yourself 100%.”

Ten Hag, however, said that by the time Ronaldo returned to Manchester, the commitment he expected was no longer there. “He could no longer bring himself to endure the necessary suffering,” the Dutch coach said. “To get the most out of every single day. To get fit. If you aren’t fit in the Premier League , you don’t stand a chance. He’s still capable of finishing chances—you can still see that. But if you can no longer get into the penalty area…”

The manager added that the issue was discussed directly. “You hold up a mirror to him and present arguments that hold water. Then, things become very clear.”

Ten Hag also said the wider lesson was about sacrifice. “Every top team needs to embrace its star player, but that star player must also be willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the team,” he admitted. “That was precisely the problem with Ronaldo.”

Ronaldo’s second spell ended after an interview during the mid-season World Cup break. “Ultimately, the choice was his,” Ten Hag said. “Whether he was willing to make that investment. If he wasn’t, then I had to make different decisions for the sake of the club. And that’s what we saw happen.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has moved to clarify the extent of his contact with Manchester United, saying he did hold talks about a possible return as interim manager but that the discussions stopped well short of any formal process. Speaking to Norwegian outlet TV2, the former United player and manager said: “I had a good chat with Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada,” Solskjær confessed to Norwegian outlet TV2 . “We didn’t discuss contract length or anything of the sort. I offered to step in if needed, and I made no demands. I shared my thoughts on what is required for the club to move forward. We had one brief conversation. There were no negotiations.”

Solskjær was linked with the role after United moved on from Ruben Amorim, but the job ultimately went to Michael Carrick, his former teammate and assistant coach. Carrick’s appointment was later made permanent after a strong finish to the 2025–26 Premier League season. The picture now looks far less settled, with Carrick under heavy scrutiny following three straight defeats and nine matches without a win. He remains in place for the moment, but the pressure around him has intensified.

Even so, Solskjær has not joined the chorus calling for change. He backed Carrick’s appointment in January and still believes the former midfielder is capable of handling the position. “Michael has what it takes to take that club forward,” Solskjær stated. “I think he’s the right man. He understands the club, understands the fans, and knows what’s required. You don’t see that ‘devil’ in him. But it’s there, and I have it too. We are so incredibly alike.

“Perhaps not many people thought I would become a football coach, certainly not the manager of Manchester United. Many probably thought the same about Michael Carrick. When I spoke with United, I also spoke highly of Michael. ‘If you choose him, you’re getting a good man,’ I said. I believe he did the same for me. Neither of us was desperate to get the job. But we’d likely step up if they asked.”

Solskjær also admitted he still feels unfinished business remains at Old Trafford, though he made clear he is not pushing for the position now.