Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick is facing the most demanding week of his tenure, with back-to-back away fixtures against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League and high-flying Leeds United in the Premier League — and pundit Paul Merson believes the pressure could prove overwhelming.

United have managed just one win in their last six matches across all competitions, the latest setback being a 1-1 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. Despite playing the final stages with ten men, Spurs denied United victory through a late Dominic Solanke equaliser.

A week Carrick cannot afford to lose

Writing in his column for Sky Sports, Merson was blunt in his assessment: