Manchester United held to 1-1 draw at Elland Road as wider executive failures eclipse Michael Carrick
Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw by Leeds United at Elland Road in a league match on 18 October 2026, leaving United 13th in the table and renewing scrutiny on head coach Michael Carrick and chief executive Omar Berrada.
Television cameras cut to Berrada in the stands at the final whistle; he is the executive who appointed Carrick and previously hired or rehired the two managers before him, having been poached from Manchester City to grow commercial revenue. The match was widely framed as a referendum on Carrick’s future, offering what the article describes as a short stay of execution rather than a solution to deeper problems.
On the field the 1-1 result felt fair, though the piece argues Leeds probably should have won after a stronger second half; United led 1-0 at half-time and appeared the better side in the opening 45 minutes. The article states Michael Carrick looked drained in the second half and stresses that "Michael Carrick did not hire Michael Carrick," adding that removing him would not address the issues that led to his appointment.
Lisandro Martínez went off injured at half-time with United 1-0 up and Noussair Mazraoui replaced him; Leeds then scored an equaliser and, according to the article, enjoyed more possession, more shots on target and a clearer structure in the second half. The writing credits the players with first-half energy and commitment but describes the squad as mismatched and liable to be pulled apart by urgent opponents like Leeds.
Defensive shape and personnel are flagged as central problems: three of United’s back four were, in the author’s view, out of position after Martínez’s exit, and Harry Maguire—signed under José Mourinho—is described as remaining the best straight defender while being consistently the slowest player on the pitch. That combination, the piece argues, makes a high line or counterattacking play difficult without leaving the team exposed.
The article traces responsibility beyond Carrick to recruitment and executive decisions, noting that four defenders were signed under Erik ten Hag, two were recruits associated with Ruben Amorim and two arrived in the Ole Gunnar Solskjær era, while no players were brought in under Ralf Rangnick. It also records that Rangnick wanted to sign Erling Haaland, Luis Díaz and Julián Álvarez, and notes John Murtough has moved on to become director of global development at Atalanta, described here as a club with a 24,000-seat stadium and "almost zero global presence." The author quotes the unresolved promise from Sir Jim Ratcliffe to decide the club’s "style of football."
The piece characterises the current situation as an organisational failure rather than a single managerial shortcoming, criticising the Glazer ownership’s alleged lack of interest in operational detail and portraying Berrada as operating in a consequence-free environment despite his role in assembling the squad. It concludes the pattern at United is one of recurring executive mistakes that hiring and firing managers has not resolved.
The article warns that, in its view, United probably will sack their current manager before the year is out and points to a run of league fixtures against Bournemouth, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool as the immediate schedule confronting Carrick and the squad.