Carrick says he expects to remain Manchester United manager after 2-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge

Michael Carrick said on November 1, 2026 he expected to remain Manchester United manager after his side lost 2-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, a result that extended United's winless run to nine matches and increased uncertainty around his position.

United began the game positively at Stamford Bridge but lost control after the interval, with Lisandro Martinez sent off in the second half after conceding a penalty, further complicating an already difficult afternoon for the visitors. Carrick told reporters he expected to be in charge for Tuesday's Champions League meeting with Roma and that his focus had already shifted to preparing the squad; when asked directly by TNT Sports whether he expected to be in charge for Tuesday's match he replied, "Yeah."

The defeat left United without a victory in nine consecutive matches in all competitions, a sequence the club have not suffered since September 1984. Their away form is also a worry: United have failed to win any of their first seven away matches this season, a start the article says has not been seen since the 1973-74 campaign when they were relegated.

Carrick declined to single out Martinez for blame after the Chelsea match, answering "No" when asked whether the defender had let him down. Martinez's dismissal, which followed a conceded penalty, was a turning point in a game United had started well but could not control after the interval.

Supporters travelling to Stamford Bridge voiced mixed reactions at full-time, with sections expressing frustration while others chanted for Carrick as he walked toward the away end. Carrick acknowledged the fans' feelings and thanked them for their support, saying: "There is a lot of emotion. We are a great football club but we want to win football matches. The supporters make a lot of effort and pay a lot of money to watch us play."

He also said the players must repay that loyalty with performances and results and repeatedly avoided engaging with speculation about his job, telling reporters, "I'm just looking forward to getting the boys ready for midweek now." The manager made clear his immediate priority was preparing for the Champions League fixture at Old Trafford.

United's next matches are the Champions League clash with Roma at Old Trafford on Tuesday, a Premier League home game against Aston Villa on November 8 and a trip to Liverpool on November 22. With nine matches without a win the prospect of ending the weekend in the Premier League relegation zone and the upcoming run of fixtures were described in the article as factors that could prove decisive for Carrick's future at Old Trafford.