Michael Carrick took training on Tuesday and expects to manage Manchester United against Chelsea this Saturday. The coach remains under pressure after a poor run of results left the club 16th in the league. Sources said he will be in the dug-out at Stamford Bridge to face the tough challenge.
Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick took training on Tuesday and now expects to be in charge against Chelsea on Saturday, sources have told ESPN, amid continuing uncertainty surrounding his long-term future at Old Trafford.
Carrick arrived at United's training base just before 8 a.m. The first-team playing squad also reported back after being given a day off on Monday.
The 45-year-old led the session, which started at 11 a.m., as United prepare for Chelsea.
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Sources have told ESPN that the expectation is that Carrick will be in the dug-out at Stamford Bridge with the opportunity to turn the situation around.
Carrick was also at Carrington on Monday afternoon to watch United's Under-21s play in a behind closed doors friendly.
CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox arrived earlier in the day to hold talks in the wake of the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.
Sources told ESPN it did not go unnoticed by the United front office that Carrick received significant support from United fans during and after the defeat to Bournemouth -- with most of the frustration directed at the players.
Carrick remains under severe pressure after a run of eight games without a win.
United have won just once in the Premier League this season --against newly promoted Ipswich at Old Trafford in August --and sit 16th in the table, one point above the relegation zone.
The visit to Chelsea on Saturday kicks off a difficult run of fixtures for United.
They face back-to-back home games against AS Roma and Aston Villa next week before the November international break.
The first game back after the international fixtures is against Liverpool at Anfield on Nov. 22.
With United making their worst ever start to a premier league season, winning just one league game since the start of the campaign, Carrick had been expected to lose his job with the club hierarchy exploring potential replacements including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte.