Michael Carrick is beginning to face increasing scrutiny at Manchester United after an inconsistent start to the season. The former midfielder took charge following Ruben Amorim’s departure, in a situation that bears some similarities to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s appointment after Jose Mourinho was dismissed. Although it remains too early to discuss another managerial change, two defeats in the opening four Premier League matches and an early Carabao Cup exit have already raised concerns around Old Trafford.

Solskjaer experienced a similar period of uncertainty before his departure in November 2021. A 4-1 defeat against Watford proved to be his final match in charge after United suffered four losses in five games. Following that result, the club’s directors held an emergency meeting that lasted several hours before Joel Glazer approved the decision to end Solskjaer’s tenure. His previous success, including guiding United to a Premier League runners-up finish, was not enough to prevent his position from becoming untenable once results deteriorated.

Carrick now has the opportunity to change the mood before the upcoming international break. United’s defeat by Brighton in the Carabao Cup added further disappointment to a difficult run, increasing the attention on the manager and the club’s football operations under INEOS and the Glazer family. Carrick has maintained that he is not feeling overwhelmed by the pressure, while acknowledging that the team’s recent performances have fallen below expectations. The manager continues to rely on the quality within his squad and believes the players have enough ability to improve their results.

The immediate priority for Carrick is therefore to produce a positive response, particularly with Manchester United facing Fulham before the extended international break. His situation is not identical to Solskjaer’s, but the comparison highlights how quickly pressure can build at a club where results carry significant weight. Solskjaer’s experience also demonstrates that a strong connection with the club and a successful playing career do not guarantee long-term security for a manager when performances and results begin to decline.