Michael Carrick: Man Utd players accused of “downing tools” and turning on manager as huge sack decision looms

By Oliver Thomas | 26 Oct 2026 12:12, Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 12:14

Gary Neville has accused Manchester United’s players of "downing tools" and turning connected under-fire manager Michael Carrick aft they were booed disconnected astatine the extremity of their 3-0 Premier League decision to Bournemouth connected Sunday.

Carrick’s aboriginal successful the Old Trafford hotseat is successful uncertainty arsenic the Red Devils are without a triumph successful 8 matches crossed each competitions and person made their worst commencement to a league play successful 40 years.

Man United person slipped down to 16th spot successful the Premier League table aft accumulating conscionable 7 points from 8 games (W1 D4 L3), portion they person besides mislaid their past 2 Champions League matches against Atletico Madrid (2-0) and Como (4-1).

Carrick has admitted that there is “no hiding” from the “tough situation” the nine finds itself in, and helium does not cognize what the aboriginal holds for him successful the dugout.

Former Man United defender and skipper Neville fears that “brilliant man” Carrick volition beryllium sacked, but helium has launched a scathing onslaught connected the players for however they person performed and behaved passim this season.

Speaking connected the Gary Neville Podcast for Sky Sports, helium said: "It was a shocker [against Bournemouth], a thing of a performance.

Neville: Man Utd players deficiency professionalism and person turned connected Carrick

"Nothing against Tottenham here, thing against Como, thing against Atletico Madrid. A small spot against Leeds, it was a spot of a fight, but thing against Fulham. That was a discarded of time, truthful this is simply a signifier of nothings, of players switching disconnected and downing tools."

Man United skipper Bruno Fernandes was an unused substitute against Bournemouth aft publicly criticising Carrick’s tactics against Como, portion Lisandro Martinez lone featured arsenic a second-half substitute having antecedently taken purpose astatine the club’s hierarchy.

"Michael Carrick is simply a superb man," Neville added. "He's a antheral of integrity, of credibility, of decency, of professionalism, of high-quality shot and consistency and reliability. Everything the radical of players successful that dressing country aren't.

"And he's going to endure for it due to the fact that he's not been capable to deliver. It's been excessively overmuch for him successful these past fewer months. He's not been capable to get a tune retired of them and they've turned connected him.

"I cognize that due to the fact that if Bruno has turned connected him publicly, with that small statement, ideate what they're similar down the scenes.

"If that's your skipper saying that, ideate what they're saying successful the dressing country down closed doors erstwhile no-one's listening. That's horrific.

"A fewer of them aren't that professional. I unrecorded successful Manchester. Some of them aren't that professional, truthful I've got nary clip for them.

"There's a fewer of them that don't spell to furniture astatine the close time, don't devour the close things, don't deliberation astir Manchester United each azygous infinitesimal of each day, and aren't surviving and breathing this shot nine arsenic they should beryllium - and arsenic professionals should.

"Why? Because it's gone to their heads. They are nothing, immoderate of those players."

Will Carrick beryllium sacked earlier Man Utd’s adjacent Premier League game?

While galore clubs are competing successful EFL Cup fourth-round enactment this week, Man United were eliminated successful circular 3 by Brighton past period and present person a afloat week to hole for their adjacent Premier League lucifer distant against Chelsea connected Saturday.

However, it remains to beryllium seen whether Carrick volition stay successful complaint for that match, with respective names emerging arsenic imaginable candidates to regenerate him.

Former Newcastle United brag Eddie Howe is said to beryllium interested successful taking the Old Trafford job, portion Julian Nagelsmann – besides retired of enactment aft leaving Germany successful the summertime – is another starring candidate.

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher has backed Man United to propulsion for Aston Villa manager Unai Emery should they determine to sack Carrick.