Neville: Managers Sometimes Need Sacking 'For Their Own Good' As Carrick Clings On At Manchester United
Gary Neville says United's decision to keep Michael Carrick looks like a product of poor planning, while Jamie Carragher and Roy Keane question whether the under-pressure head coach can recover.
Gary Neville believes Manchester United's decision to stand by Michael Carrick reflects muddled thinking and a shortage of clear alternatives, saying managers sometimes need to be dismissed "for their own good." United are 16th in the Premier League, one point above the relegation zone, after a 3-0 home defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday. Carrick, widely expected to lose his job after that result, will remain in charge for Saturday's lunchtime trip to Chelsea.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Neville said he did not know the details but suspected the club had debated Carrick's future back and forth in the 24 hours after Bournemouth until they settled on keeping him. He attributed that outcome to a lack of planning, available options and decision-making. Drawing on his own experience at Valencia, Neville said he had been relieved when the club ended his tenure, arguing that a manager can sometimes benefit from being sacked.
Carrick's position was already uncertain before Bournemouth. Captain Bruno Fernandes had criticised the tactics after a 4-1 Champions League loss at Como, and Fernandes was dropped for the Bournemouth match before the pair held talks to clear the air. Neville described dressing rooms as brutal places and said a captain's public comments would represent only a small fraction of what players say privately, noting that Fernandes and the rest of the squad had been performing poorly for months.
United supporters sang Carrick's name as he applauded the crowd after the Bournemouth defeat, which Neville called effectively a farewell lap, then booed the players once Carrick went down the tunnel. It is understood the hierarchy have explored replacements, with former Newcastle boss Eddie Howe and ex-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann under consideration. Carrick now prepares the group for Stamford Bridge, with home games against Roma and Aston Villa to follow before November's international break.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said Carrick cannot say so publicly but would likely want to be put out of his misery, questioning how he can deliver a team talk at Chelsea when the players appear not to be responding. Roy Keane, another former United captain, argued Carrick needs the players more than they need him, adding that the same squad who helped him get the job last year are now running the show.
Image: Getty Images / BBC Sport
