Manchester United's ownership group INEOS remains firmly in support of manager Michael Carrick, despite a turbulent opening to the season that has left the club with just six points from their first six Premier League fixtures.

The latest setback came on Wednesday night, when United were beaten 2-0 by Atletico Madrid — a result made worse by an extraordinary post-match outburst from defender Lisandro Martinez, who publicly blamed technical director Jason Wilcox for failings in the summer transfer window.

Ownership backing, but pressure mounting

David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that United's hierarchy are "right behind" Carrick and want him to succeed, even as the pressure on the former midfielder intensifies.

"I don't know of any desire to get rid of Carrick. On the contrary, they are right behind him and want him to succeed. But you're right behind somebody at any club until you're not. And there will be concern about the results and certainly the performances," Ornstein wrote.

Ornstein was equally clear that goodwill alone will not protect Carrick indefinitely. "Those that have gone before him have paid the price when they've gone on a poor run," he noted, adding that Carrick "needs to improve things."

From hero to under scrutiny

The irony of Carrick's predicament is stark. He was handed the permanent managerial role this summer on the back of an impressive interim stint that replaced Ruben Amorim — a period that yielded a third-place league finish, plus memorable victories over Manchester City and Arsenal.

But that goodwill has been tested severely. United were booed off at Old Trafford at the weekend after drawing with bottom-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who had been reduced to 10 men. Ornstein did not mince his words on that performance: "What we saw against Tottenham wouldn't have been deemed acceptable by Carrick or the powers that be. The support were really unhappy."

Questions beyond the dugout

Ornstein also highlighted that scrutiny at Old Trafford extends beyond Carrick himself, with questions swirling around recruitment, executives, and ownership decisions. "We've been in this position so many times before and the one who pays the price is the manager," he warned.

United face a difficult trip to in-form Leeds United this weekend as Premier League action resumes — a fixture that could prove pivotal for Carrick's standing at the club.