The international break is almost here: so wave goodbye to your players, and maybe your manager

Opinion piece examining managerial pressure during the international break, with Michael Carrick at Manchester United among five Premier League managers potentially facing the sack.

Max Rushden's column examines the precarious position of several Premier League managers heading into the international break, traditionally a time when clubs make managerial changes. Michael Carrick at Manchester United is the focal point, despite a comeback victory against Roma that left the club's hierarchy visibly unmoved. Rushden notes that Carrick's future may hinge on results against Aston Villa, but questions whether one lucky win would be enough to save his job given United's structural problems.

Beyond Carrick, Rushden identifies four other managers potentially vulnerable: Régis Le Bris at Sunderland, Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace, and others facing scrutiny during the break. The piece argues that the international break has shifted from a reset period to a time when clubs use the pause to make managerial decisions, with several bosses now "looking over their shoulder" as the break approaches.