Michael Carrick’s future as Manchester United manager has come under fresh scrutiny after his side suffered a 2-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
United missed several opportunities to take the lead before Morgan Rogers broke the deadlock in the 50th minute, driving through the visitors’ defence and lifting the ball over goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The visitors’ hopes of recovering were dealt another blow when Lisandro Martinez received two yellow cards in quick succession. His second booking followed a foul on Wesley Fofana and resulted in a penalty, which Cole Palmer converted to seal Chelsea’s victory.
The defeat extended United’s winless run to nine games, leaving the club just one point above the relegation zone and at risk of ending the weekend in the bottom three.
Carrick had come under pressure following last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth but was retained for the trip to Stamford Bridge.
He recalled captain Bruno Fernandes, who had been left out of the previous match after reportedly criticising the manager’s tactics following a 4-1 Champions League defeat to Como.
Fernandes missed a good opportunity to put United ahead when he fired over from Bryan Mbeumo’s cross. Mbeumo later failed to connect with Fernandes’s delivery at the back post, while Amad Diallo was denied twice by Chelsea’s stand-in goalkeeper, Mike Penders.
United also thought they had taken the lead when Matheus Cunha turned in Harry Maguire’s header from a corner, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Their missed chances proved costly as Rogers, who previously worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough, put Chelsea ahead early in the second half.
Martinez’s dismissal further weakened United, allowing Chelsea to control the closing stages. Substitute Estevao also had a goal ruled out for offside after finishing a pass from Palmer.
Chelsea supporters taunted Carrick with chants of “sacked in the morning” as their team saw out the victory.
The result leaves United’s hierarchy facing another major decision ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League home fixture against Roma. With United having lost two of their first three European matches, another defeat would increase the pressure on the club and its manager.