MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Manchester United manager Michael Carrick is now set for a game-by-game fight to save his job with the underachieving team.
Carrick will be in charge Saturday for a game at Chelsea in the Premier League, a person familiar with the club’s decision told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The former United standout will get the chance to turn results around, the person said on condition of anonymity because the club owned by the U.S.-based Glazer family and British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe has not announced its plans.
Two bad losses and poor performances against well-run, low-budget opponents in the past week have pushed Carrick close to being fired despite being given a full-time contract in May, after having been in temporary charge.
United was humbled in a 4-1 loss at Como in the Champions League and then 3-0 at home to Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday. Fans at Old Trafford showed clear support for Carrick as he left the field before jeering the players as they followed him off.
The record 20-time English champion is at one of its lowest points since club icon Alex Ferguson left in 2013 after a storied 27-year run as manager.
Carrick was a key midfielder in the last five of Ferguson’s Premier League title teams and in the 2008 Champions League triumph.
He is the seventh full-time manager, plus several caretaker and interim coaches, since Ferguson left as United has declined on the field and in the global league table of high-earning clubs.
British media have speculated that club officials are interested in former Newcastle manager Eddie Howe or former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann to replace Carrick.
After the visit to Chelsea, United hosts Roma in the Champions League next Tuesday and then Aston Villa in the Premier League on Nov. 8.
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