Pulis: Manchester United need stability after Como defeat, not another managerial change

Tony Pulis said Manchester United require stability rather than further upheaval after their 4-1 Champions League defeat at Como on Wednesday, a result that has increased pressure on interim head coach Michael Carrick.

Carrick, who was appointed interim manager in January, oversaw a period of improved results that helped United finish third and secure Champions League qualification; Pulis noted Carrick also "calmed the water behind the scenes." Supporters and pundits often expect a short-term lift when a new manager arrives, and Pulis accepted such a "bounce" occurred under Carrick before form slipped back.

Pulis warned that the rebound many clubs see after a managerial change frequently fades as players return to previous performance levels, and he said United’s current slide cannot be attributed solely to who is in charge. He noted Carrick apologised to the club’s 700 travelling supporters after the 4-1 loss at Como and suggested the manager now faces mounting pressure amid wider squad issues.

On recruitment and squad composition, Pulis pointed to the scale of recent spending at United: since 2021 the club has employed three other permanent managers — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim — and spent more than £1bn on 27 major signings, many of whom remain at Old Trafford. He added that United invested a further £150m this year under Carrick, with the bulk of that outlay on three midfielders, and questioned how many current players Carrick himself would have selected.

Drawing on his experience of taking charge at troubled clubs, Pulis said a manager must set non-negotiable standards such as hard work and collective spirit and quickly identify which players will follow that plan. He described the difficulty managers face when owners retain financial and reputational interests in existing players, making honest public criticism problematic and complicating efforts to shift the squad.

Pulis also referenced recent public scrutiny of United’s recruitment, citing defender Lisandro Martinez’s outspoken questioning of the transfer strategy, and said Martinez’s comments raise questions about the player’s own assessment of his success. He argued that managing players with inflated self-views is an additional challenge that Carrick must confront.

Turning to leadership on the pitch, Pulis was critical of comments from captain Bruno Fernandes after the Como defeat and said the performance raised doubts about the team’s willingness to compete; Fernandes has scored 111 goals in 338 appearances for Manchester United. Pulis praised Carrick’s backroom team — Steve Holland, Jonny Evans and Jonathan Woodgate — as capable assistants with top-level experience and said United need players with ability, pace and character across outfield positions to become genuine title contenders again.

Pulis invoked the example of Mikel Arteta’s tenure at Arsenal, noting Arteta arrived in December 2019 and won the 2020 FA Cup before enduring criticism while being allowed time to install an identity at the club. He argued United must acknowledge repeated recruitment failures, reset their direction and give the manager time to build an identity rather than react with another managerial change.

Pulis said he had supported Carrick’s appointment after Darren Fletcher was overlooked and believes Carrick should be backed to make the necessary changes; he concluded that, "At this moment, United are not capable of winning the league title, whoever is in charge, but stability is the way forward to fix that." Tony Pulis was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.