Manchester United’s board is yet to make a final decision on Michael Carrick’s future.
The 4-4 draw with Aston Villa on Sunday means United, who are 18th in the table, have made their worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years.
The draw was Carrick’s third match in charge since the board decided to give the 45-year-old more time to improve the side’s form after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on 25 October.
The board felt Carrick – and the players – had earned the opportunity to show that they could turn the club’s fortunes around, while the heirachy were also aware that November’s two-week break would offer an opportunity to reassess the situation in a calmer manner.
They are determined to do exactly that, knowing the results – one win, one draw and one defeat – and performances United have delivered in the past three games offer a mixed view of Carrick’s tenure.
Conceding eight goals, winning only once and dropping into the relegation zone are obvious negatives. However, it is also felt fighting back from two goals down three times over the past two games showed that the players remain behind Carrick.
United’s heirachy explored the possibility of replacing Carrick after the loss to Bournemouth last month, with ex-Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and former Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann considered.
Carrick said after the 4-4 draw against Aston Villa that he would not step down, but chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox will be influential in the decision whether to keep the former Middlesbrough boss.
United travel to arch rivals Liverpool on 22 November in their first match after the international break, with Carrick’s side in 18th place in the Premier League.
With just one league win so far this term, it is United’s lowest position having played 10 matches since the 1986-87 campaign.
Following the Anfield trip, five of United’s next seven league opponents are in the bottom half of the league. This includes the four other sides currently in the bottom five, with meetings against Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Sunderland, all at Old Trafford.
Whether Carrick keeps his job or not, United will continue to struggle unless they stop conceding goals with such regularity.
Only Crystal Palace and Ipswich have let in more than United’s 19 league goals.
They have conceded 15 times in the past three matches in all competitions. Their only clean sheet this term came against Azerbaijan title winners Sabah FK in the Champions League.