Man Utd stick with Carrick - inside a turbulent 48 hours at Old Trafford

Manchester United have decided to retain Michael Carrick as head coach after 48 hours of uncertainty following defeats to Como and Bournemouth, with the decision to be reviewed after matches against Roma and Aston Villa.

Manchester United have opted to keep Michael Carrick as head coach despite mounting pressure following poor performances. After a 4-1 defeat at Como on 21 October and a subsequent loss to Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday, speculation mounted that Carrick would be sacked. Captain Bruno Fernandes publicly questioned Carrick's tactics following the Como match, while defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the lack of investment and technical director Jason Wilcox's performance.

On Monday morning, an announcement terminating Carrick's tenure was widely anticipated, but United's hierarchy decided to give the manager and squad a chance to turn things around. No formal timescale has been set, but Carrick will remain in charge for Saturday's trip to Chelsea. The club is 16th in the table.

The most likely moment for a managerial review would come after upcoming fixtures against Roma in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the Premier League, before the two-week international break. United sources indicated that calmness and a clear head were needed to navigate the turbulence at Old Trafford, with the decision seen as not entirely Carrick's fault.