Manchester United lost 2-0 to Chelsea away from home at Stamford Bridge in London in the Premier League on Saturday 31 October, extending their winless run to nine matches in all competitions. After nine rounds of games, United are a point above the Premier League relegation zone, and Stan Collymore then predicted the club will sack Michael Carrick.
Collymore's view on the United job
TEAMtalk's transfer insider, Graeme Bailey, has reported that Manchester United have no immediate plans to sack Michael Carrick as first-team manager. Sources told TEAMtalk that Manchester United co-owners INEOS plan to keep Carrick in charge until the international break at least.
Former Aston Villa striker Collymore wrote on X at 2:11pm on October 31: "Prediction. “United will pull the trigger on Carrick but will employ a placeholder for the rest of the season. “Why? Their main target is not available for this full season. “At which point United sack Wilcox, Berrada and dismantle the football department. “They will then offer their number 1 target absolute autonomy over football affairs alongside the most lucrative managerial offer since Pep.”"
Emery and Carragher's comments
Bailey has also reported that Unai Emery is one of the managerial candidates Manchester United are keeping tabs on if they decide to sack Carrick.
Jamie Carragher said on the Stick to Football podcast that Emery would swap Villa Park for Old Trafford. He said: "Surely he would want that opportunity to manage a giant again. “There is a chain in football, whether you like it or not. “So Real Madrid will take Manchester United’s best player, they did it with Ronaldo. “And there will be teams below Aston Villa, and they’ll take their players or manager, so shut the up Aston Villa fans."
The pundit also said on the Overlap Daily podcast that his message to Villa fans had been "in jest" and added: "I just think Unai Emery is the best manager in the league and if you’re Man Utd you’re thinking, what’s the best we can get?"
Villa statement and Carragher apology
Aston Villa released an official statement on social media saying: "Aston Villa will initiate legal action against Jamie Carragher for his unacceptable insults about the Club and its fans. Aston Villa will not allow anyone to stop our ascension in English and European football."
Carragher apologised on X at 12:44pm on October 31, writing: "I’d like to apologise to Aston Villa, the owners & their fans. “I can assure Villa fans it was tongue in cheek but I can understand it’s not come across that way, so apologies."
Collymore criticises Villa threat
Collymore also criticised Aston Villa's threat to sue Carragher over his comments. He wrote on X at 1:28am on October 31: "Any club looking for frivolous threats of law suits is setting a dangerous precedent."
