Michael Carrick resigned to his fate after defeat sees Man Utd hit 40-year low

· Mirror

Michael Carrick gave a downbeat post-match interview after watching his Manchester United side lose 3-0 to Bournemouth at Old Trafford - a result which may have sealed his fate

Michael Carrick has admitted that he doesn't know whether he will keep his job after Manchester United slumped to yet another miserable defeat at the hands of Bournemouth.

United were thrashed 3-0 by the Cherries at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, plunging them to 16th in the Premier League. Rayan put the away side ahead with a back-post volley before comical mistakes by Leny Yoro and Senne Lammens allowed Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson to add two more goals.

Carrick has now overseen just two wins in 12 matches across all competitions this season, with the Bournemouth loss coming after a shambolic 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League. United have taken just seven points from eight Premier League games, which is their worst start to a league campaign since they returned four in 1986/87.

United chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox were in the stands at Old Trafford and both Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher predicted that Carrick will be relieved of his duties following the defeat.

> "It's a tough situation, there's no hiding from it," Carrick told Sky Sports when asked about his future. "But what it looks like and what's next, I really don't know. I will always do what's best for this football club, I've said it all along and I don't change that now.

> "I love what I do, I love the position I'm in. I feel the responsibility but we'll have to wait and see." Asked bluntly in his press conference if he would be sacked, Carrick replied: "I am not expecting anything."

United have been credited with interest in former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann, as well as ex-Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.

Carrick was only appointed as permanent United boss in the summer, after owners INEOS explored other options. The former midfielder made a huge impact after arriving in January as interim boss following the sacking of Ruben Amorim, but has made a dreadful start to the season, with the only two wins coming against newly-promoted Ipswich and Champions League debutants Sabah.

Sunday was a huge game for the 45-year-old, who dropped captain Bruno Fernandes following his post-match comments in Como. But he didn't get the reaction he was looking for and now stands on the brink of the sack.

> "It was a strange mix of emotions at the end of the game. It wasn't a nice way to end the game," he added.

> "It was a tough day for the players. We went into the game having been rocked. You can feel that. They're really hurting and disappointed in there. It's not a nice feeling. You have to accept it, we're in that situation.

> "It's really difficult to have a day like this at this football club and feel the emotion and dynamics of what it was like today. Not for me personally but for Manchester United. It was really mixed. I feel responsibility with the position I'm in. I've been at the club a long time. It hurts a lot going through this."

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