Michael Carrick receives official Man Utd sack warning

Michael Carrick receives official Man Utd sack warningCameron SmithFootballTransfersCameron SmithManchester United legend Gary Neville has admitted that his former club’s form “has to change in the next few weeks” amid rumours that Michael Carrick could soon be sacked.

The Red Devils were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Leeds United on Sunday afternoon, thanks to a second-half equaliser from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and they are now 13th in the Premier League table, having picked up just seven points from their opening seven matches.

Carrick is under increasing pressure to end their current slump and he faces a crucial few weeks at the helm, with fixtures against Como, Bournemouth, Chelsea, AS Roma and in-form Aston Villa before the November international break.

Man Utd are only two points clear of the relegation zone and it has been widely reported that former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is open to joining the Old Trafford outfit if Carrick is sacked, with his camp rumoured to be in contact with the Red Devils hierarchy.

The aforementioned Neville believes it is still too soon to sack Carrick, but he has admitted that results must improve quickly otherwise the club’s hand may be forced.

Gary Neville issues Michael Carrick sack warning

“I would say fourth would be a birdie, fifth would be par, and sixth would be a bogey. But they can’t finish outside the top five, because then you’re missing out on Champions League and it becomes a vicious circle,” Neville told Sky Sports after Man Utd’s sixth consecutive game without a win.

“Then you can’t get those players because they want to play in the Champions League and you can’t get the money from it and you’ve lost the £60m-£70m and you’re in the Europa League on Thursday nights.

“Fifth is a must for Michael Carrick to continue to grow and Manchester United continue to grow with investment.

“If they’re 13th in January, he’s got a problem because then you are what you are. Whereas I think it’s still early enough, seven points from seven games, to say, ‘okay, still early in the season’. You can’t say that after 15 games.”

Neville continued: “It has to change in the next few weeks: Bournemouth is really important and Chelsea away. And how he manages the games in between that.

“You’ve got to say fifth. You know that anything less than fifth is going to be a disappointment and a dropping standard from the start of the season where everybody expected them to finish.

“And at the moment, they’re well short of that because you look at Brighton, Liverpool, Aston Villa – they look like they’re picking up a little bit. It’s difficult.”