Manchester United’s chief executives Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox will meet in Monaco on Wednesday to decide Michael Carrick’s future as head coach. The location is not connected to the issue itself, it is where the club’s senior leadership regularly meets, but this week the main agenda item is Carrick’s position.
Berrada, the club’s chief executive, and Wilcox, director of football, are expected to recommend that Carrick be replaced. Sources close to the discussions say both attended several recent matches, including the 3-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on 25 October and the chaotic 3-2 win over Roma on 3 November. While United have had moments of resilience, such as coming back twice to draw against Aston Villa last Sunday, their defensive frailties and inconsistency have led to calls for change.
United currently sit 18th in the Premier League, their lowest position at this stage of a top-flight season since 1986-87. They have won just one of their first ten league games and none since August. Conceding 30 goals across all competitions in 15 matches, including 19 in ten Premier League fixtures, the club’s defensive record has been a significant concern.
The meeting in Monaco was scheduled as part of a routine series of executive catch-ups and is not a response to an urgent crisis. Berrada and Wilcox had planned to discuss Manchester United’s broader strategy, but Carrick’s future has now become the dominant topic.
The club has stood by Carrick in recent weeks, with internal sources emphasizing a desire to give the head coach and players an opportunity to improve. The two-week international break in November was seen as a chance to reassess the season’s start. However, the inability to halt opponents from scoring and the inconsistency in team performances have convinced Berrada and Wilcox that a managerial change is necessary.
If the executives recommend parting ways with Carrick, the club is also considering additional coaching support to assist the current team. Aaron Danks, Bayern Munich’s coach who worked with Carrick at Middlesbrough and was linked with a potential appointment in the summer, is among the options.
This decision carries added weight for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who acquired a 28.94% stake in Manchester United for just over £1 billion less than three years ago. Ratcliffe, who lives in Monaco and whose company Ineos has offices there, has faced criticism for various decisions since his investment. On Christmas Eve 2023, Ratcliffe publicly declared his ambition for United to return to the top of English, European, and world football, a vision now complicated by the club’s current league position.
Ratcliffe still supports Berrada and Wilcox despite the mounting fan discontent directed at the executives. The pair have survived managerial upheaval in recent seasons, including the sacking of Ruben Amorim and the near-dismissal of Erik ten Hag. Ten Hag was retained after the FA Cup final win over Manchester City in 2024 but was eventually dismissed three weeks later following an extended internal review. Amorim was called to Monaco after the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham in 2025.
Previous decisions to dismiss managers were not made in Monaco. Amorim was sacked less than a day after a controversial media appearance in January, and Ten Hag’s near departure was confirmed at an Ineos meeting in London. The Monaco setting is a regular meeting place for the club’s leadership, typically lasting three to four hours in the morning before Ratcliffe’s lunchtime jog.
Should Ratcliffe choose to retain Carrick against the executives’ recommendation, questions will arise about the working relationship between Berrada, Wilcox, and the head coach. It would also challenge the authority of the club’s senior football figures who have been closely involved in recruitment and team strategy.
The influence of the Glazer family on this decision remains unclear, with no public statements or indications about their stance. United’s ongoing struggles and the prospect of a mid-season managerial change for the third consecutive year continue to fuel debate over the club’s direction.
The Monaco meeting will set the tone for Manchester United’s immediate future as the club seeks to escape its current turmoil.
According to BBC Sports.