Manchester United have decided to keep Michael Carrick in charge as head coach, giving him more time to turn around the club's alarming early-season slump, according to a report by The Athletic.

The decision came after a meeting on Monday involving senior leadership figures — including co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox — who concluded that Carrick and the playing squad deserved additional time to deliver results.

A week of turbulence at Old Trafford

The reprieve arrives after a torrid week for United, who fell to back-to-back defeats against Como and Bournemouth. Those results were compounded by public criticism from two of the club's most prominent players. Lisandro Martinez directed his frustration at technical director Wilcox and the club's recruitment strategy, while captain Bruno Fernandes went further, publicly questioning Carrick's tactical decisions in the Champions League.

Neither Martinez nor Fernandes started the defeat to Bournemouth, with Fernandes finishing the afternoon as an unused substitute at Old Trafford. In a notable turn, the home supporters appeared to direct more of their anger at the players who had spoken out than at their embattled head coach — and when Carrick completed a lap of appreciation at full time, sections of the crowd sang his name before booing the players once he had retreated down the tunnel.

Speculation over replacements comes to nothing

Persistent reports linking United with ex-Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and former Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe have so far come to nothing. Carrick retains his position for now, though the pressure on him remains intense.

Carrick was appointed to the permanent role following an encouraging stint as interim head coach in the second half of last season, when he steadied the ship after the departure of Ruben Amorim. Under his guidance, United rallied to a third-place Premier League finish and secured a return to the Champions League.

Results must improve — and fast

That early momentum has since evaporated. Across 12 matches in all competitions, United have recorded just two wins — one in the Premier League and one in the Champions League. The club have slipped back into the bottom five of the Premier League table, and their Champions League campaign is in danger, with a top-eight finish in the league phase looking increasingly difficult.

The fixture list offers little comfort. United's remaining October and November schedule includes clashes against Chelsea, Roma, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Sporting CP, and Brentford — a formidable run of games that will quickly test whether Carrick can translate this stay of execution into a genuine revival.