United’s form has sputtered, yet midfielder Kobbie Mainoo stepped up, loudly backing manager Michael Carrick and his long‑term vision.
Two months have passed without a win in any competition, and the criticism has intensified. Still, Mainoo insists the squad trusts Carrick and expects a swift reversal at Old Trafford.
‘We’re just one victory away from turning things around,’ Mainoo told Fabrizio Romano. ‘The season has been rough, we missed our targets, but now we must look ahead.’
A mounting crisis at Old Trafford. Can United spark a revival before the year ends?
The numbers tell a bleak story. United’s last triumph arrived on September 9, a 2‑1 win over Sabah in the Champions League, and since then the team has suffered six losses and three draws – a record unworthy of the club’s stature.
Michael Carrick of Manchester United.
The poor run has put Carrick under fire. While the board still publicly backs the 45‑year‑old, his tolerance for mistakes has vanished. For my money, Carrick’s fate will be decided by the festive fixtures. His future now hinges on how United handles the hectic festive schedule and shows clear signs of improvement before the season’s second half.
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Adding fuel to the fire, former manager Erik ten Hag recently slammed his old club. Unlike Mainoo’s optimism, the Dutch coach warned that even a historic side isn’t safe from relegation if a toxic slump persists.
‘In the Premier League, relegation is always possible because every team boasts strong squads and capable managers,’ ten Hag told ESPN NL. ‘If you find yourself on the wrong side and fall into a vicious cycle, it becomes incredibly hard to recover.’