Second key Leeds United Premier League rival set to sack manager with meeting today
Two of Leeds United’s Premier League rivals look set for an international break managerial change.
A second key Leeds United Premier League rival looks set for change amid reports of an imminent managerial sacking.
Reports emerged over the weekend of Crystal Palace’s intention to part ways with their head coach Pierre Sage following a dismal start to the season. The Eagles are bottom of the Premier League with just seven points from 10 games.
One place and two points above Palace are Manchester United, who have endured their worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years. And Old Trafford chiefs could now follow their Selhurst Park peers in making a change in the dugout.
The Guardian first reported on Monday evening that Manchester United were ‘moving towards’ sacking Carrick. The newspaper said director of football, former Leeds winger Jason Wilcox, is leading a review with managerial change looking likely.
Carrick was granted a stay of execution following Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat at home to Bournemouth last month, their seventh defeat of the season in all competitions. The Old Trafford club have won just one Premier League game and drew 1-1 at Leeds in October.
TalkSPORT then reported that a decision on Carrick could be confirmed as early as today, with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe set to hold a meeting with Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada. He is expected to be advised to make a change of manager.
As per @lufcstats on X, should Carrick leave he will become just the second Manchester United manager to face Leeds at least twice and fail to win. The Whites beat their old rivals at Old Trafford for the first time in 45 years back in April before last month’s stalemate.
USA national team manager Mauricio Pochettino is the early frontrunner to replace Carrick at Old Trafford, albeit he has a release clause of around £7.5million. A decision to trigger that clause would have an impact on Leeds’ American midfielder Brenden Aaronson.
Aaronson has failed to make the last two USA squads after falling to the fringes of the Leeds starting-XI. The energetic midfielder has made eight Premier League appearances this season but only three have come from the start, with no goals or assists to his name.
Should Manchester United find themselves unable to climb away from the bottom three over the season, Leeds could end up having a huge impact on their future. Daniel Farke’s side head to Old Trafford in late-May, the third-to-last fixture of the campaign.