Michael Carrick is on the brink of being sacked as Manchester United manager.
asserted
Carrick → sack → manager
The 45-year-old’s future at Old Trafford is hanging by a thread after United slumped to a sixth loss in 12 games this season with a 3-0 thrashing at home to Bournemouth.
asserted
United → hang → Bournemouth
The result leaves them just a point above the relegation zone.
asserted
result → leave → zone
The United hierarchy could be about to move for their third manager this year after a miserable day when furious fans unleashed their anger on co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Glazers, Jason Wilcox, the director of football, and the players.
uncertain
fans → move → football
As of 8pm on Sunday (Monday, 7am AEDT), it was understood that no formal decision had been taken on Carrick’s future.
asserted
decision → understand → future
Asked whether he expected to be sacked, Carrick said: “I totally understand the situation.
asserted
I → ask → situation
I’m not expecting anything either way.
asserted
I → expect → anything
I’m carrying on as normal.
asserted
I → carry → ?
I love this place.
asserted
I → love → place
I’ll always do what I feel is going to be the best for the football club, and I won’t change that now, whatever decision is made.
asserted
decision → do → that
“It’s a tough situation; there’s no hiding from it.
asserted
It → ’ → it
What it looks like and what’s next I really don’t know.
asserted
I → look → What
I love what I do, and I feel the responsibility – we’ll have to wait and see.
asserted
we → love → responsibility
I take responsibility.
asserted
I → take → responsibility
I respect the position that I’m in, and the responsibility is mine.
asserted
responsibility → respect → that
What else can I say really right now?”
asserted
I → say → What
‘Carrick wants to be changed’
Carrick said he had yet to discuss his future with Wilcox or Omar Berrada, the chief executive, who shook his head in disbelief in the directors’ box when Bournemouth scored their second shortly before half-time.
asserted
Bournemouth → want → time
“No, just briefly they came down like they always do after a game, but nothing out of the ordinary,” Carrick said.
asserted
Carrick → come → ordinary
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher both believe Carrick will lose his job.
asserted
Carrick → believe → job
“It’s become untenable,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.
asserted
Carragher → become → Sports
“Carrick wants to be changed.
asserted
Carrick → want → ?
He doesn’t want to be sat in the dugout with those players.
asserted
He → want → players
Can you imagine going into the training ground tomorrow with Bruno Fernandes after not bringing him on?
asserted
you → imagine → him
He wants to be put out of his misery tonight.”
asserted
He → want → misery
Neville, the former United captain, added: “It’s going to be ridiculously difficult for Carrick to be Manchester United manager moving forward.
asserted
Carrick → add → ?
Those two [Berrada and Wilcox] are probably going to make a decision that will disgust Manchester United fans but is probably necessary.
asserted
that → go → fans
It’s just an absolute mess.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Carrick, who had dropped captain Fernandes and refused to bring him on in the wake of the midfielder’s criticism of his tactics after Wednesday’s 4-1 trouncing by Como, was supported throughout the game by United fans in stark contrast to the abuse directed at the ownership, hierarchy and players.
asserted
who → drop → ownership
As soon as Carrick had disappeared down the tunnel, the Stretford End – who had targeted the Glazers and Ratcliffe as well as Wilcox – rained down a torrent of boos on the players trailing behind the manager.
asserted
who → disappear → manager
Carrick had cut a forlorn figure as he walked around the pitch at the end, applauding the fans who sang his name and, at one point, placing a hand over his heart and banging his chest.
asserted
who → cut → chest
But Carrick denied that this was him saying goodbye.
asserted
him → deny → goodbye
“It wasn’t a farewell from me,” he said.
asserted
he → say → me
“I probably didn’t really expect that off the supporters, if I’m honest, but I’ve always felt the support and that connection with them.
asserted
I → expect → them
It will take a bit of time to digest, but I certainly appreciate their support.
asserted
I → take → support
It’s difficult for me to have a day like this at this club and feel the emotion.
asserted
me → ’ → emotion
“I’m feeling it for my players; they’re going through a tough spell.
asserted
they → feel → spell
It’s not like they don’t care or they want to be in this position.
asserted
they → ’ → position
The ones I’ve spoken to, it’s affecting them a lot.”
asserted
it → speak → them
However, Neville blasted the players and suggested they were no longer playing for Carrick.
uncertain
they → blast → Carrick
“They’ve downed tools and they’ve done this a number of times,” he said.
asserted
he → down → times
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
