Michael Carrick has three games to save Manchester United.

Michael Carrick faces immense pressure: just three games to save his position at the helm of Manchester United! The heavy defeat against Leeds United last Monday was not a total disaster for the Red Devils’ Champions League aspirations, but it was undoubtedly a warning sign confirming an impending crisis. With two losses in four matches, United now finds itself in a desperate struggle to avoid an outcome that no one wants: missing out on elite European competitions.

The truth is clear: the next three games will determine the immediate future of the team and, importantly, of interim manager Michael Carrick. The former club midfielder, who took over after Ralf Rangnick’s departure, has been praised for his close connection with the players and for the temporary uplift in the team’s performance, which even saw them occupy 3rd place in the Premier League. However, the “honeymoon” is over, and doubts have begun to set in.

Internal sources and experts are already questioning whether Carrick has the necessary adaptability during matches and whether his tactical profile is up to the standards of the giant that is Manchester United. The truth is that the United squad is far from ideal: there is a lack of balance, a renewed midfield, effective central defenders, a reliable left-back, and, above all, a striker who can make a difference in a system that is transitioning from the traditional 3-4-3 to a 4-2-3-1, a change that requires time and patience — something rare at this club and in today’s world.

Amid this uncertainty, the figure of Andoni Iraola, former Bournemouth manager, also emerges. He recently stepped down from his role with the Cherries and could now have disrupted the plans of United’s management. There were reports that Carrick was about to be confirmed in the main role, but Iraola’s availability, a young manager with proven success, could complicate the scenario and create a real “war” behind the scenes at Old Trafford. Although Iraola is an admired coach, some compare him to Thomas Frank, a name that raises doubts about whether he would be the right choice for a club of the caliber of the Red Devils.

Thus, Manchester United is experiencing a moment of great tension and uncertainty: Carrick has three matches to prove that he deserves to keep the helm of the team or risks being replaced by a coach who could bring a new philosophy but also high risks. Time is running out, the demands are at their peak, and the pressure has never been so intense for the former England international.

In the upcoming matches, each victory will be a step towards salvation and calming the fans, but each slip could accelerate a change that might redefine the season for Manchester United. The battle of coaches has begun, and the stage is the legendary Old Trafford — where only the best survive.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.