A promising start undone at Stamford Bridge
Manchester United lost 2-0 at Chelsea on Saturday, their seventh defeat in 13 games and a ninth consecutive game without a win in all competitions, according to [1]. It was not a one-sided start. United were on top in the first half but missed several chances, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo both firing wide, as [2] described it. [3] noted Diallo releasing Fernandes down the left and Bryan Mbeumo missing a close-range chance.
Fernandes had been reinstated to the starting line-up after being left out for the defeat to Bournemouth, [4] reports. The goals came from Morgan Rogers and a Cole Palmer penalty, and Michael Carrick criticised his side’s defending afterwards, particularly for the first goal, per [5]. Missed chances and soft goals have defined this run.
Martínez’s red card and the absentees
The turning point was the dismissal of Lisandro Martínez after 83 seconds of a spell BBC Sport headlined as “inexplicable”. United played the second half with ten men. Accounts of the offence differ: [4] and The Guardian describe a second yellow card, while one [2] summary refers to a reckless elbow on Wesley Fofana. The length of the ban is not stated in any of the reports.
The suspension timing is also unclear. [6] expects him to miss the Roma match, while [7] says he will miss the home game against Aston Villa on 8 November. Either way, United’s defence is short of a key figure for a difficult fixture list. Benjamin Šeško is also absent and not expected back until the new year, according to [1]. A BBC Sport gossip roundup says United have enquired about Ivan Toney, but that is an unconfirmed rumour.
Carrick under pressure
The manager’s position is the dominant story, and the reports pull in different directions. [8] says he looks likely to lose his job this month, naming Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann as top replacement targets. That is a rumour, not a confirmed decision. Its own opinion piece also says United are on course for relegation at 0.77 points per game.
Another Sky Sports [9] cites The Athletic saying Carrick will get at least two more matches. Football Italia reports that Carrick himself expects to remain in charge, though it adds that strong reports suggest he could be sacked. [1] suggested a new manager might even be in place before the next game. Nothing has been confirmed, and one BBC report notes no change in management so far.
What it means
United are 17th in the Premier League with 7 points from 9 games (W1 D4 L4, 10 scored, 15 conceded), so the table already looks like a relegation fight. The last five results are 0-2 at Chelsea, 0-3 against Bournemouth, 1-4 at Como in the Champions League, 1-1 at Leeds and 0-2 at Atlético Madrid. That is two goals scored and twelve conceded across those five matches, a pattern that matches Carrick’s complaint about defending.
The next fixture asks a lot. United host Roma in the Champions League on 3 November, and Football Italia describes Roma, on four points from three group games, as being in better form. United may be without Martínez and are still hunting a first win in ten matches. The site’s forecast for the game locks 24 hours before kick-off. Sky’s list of difficult fixtures also includes Aston Villa, Liverpool and Sporting, so any reprieve could be short-lived. A result against Roma would calm the managerial debate, and another heavy defeat would make the reports of a change harder to dismiss.
Sources
- The Guardian: Manchester United crisis deepens with Chelsea defeat and Martínez red card theguardian.com ↩
- BBC Sport: Martinez's 'inexplicable' 83 seconds cost Man Utd and Carrick bbc.co.uk ↩
- The Guardian: Chelsea v Manchester United: Premier League – live theguardian.com ↩
- Sky Sports: Martinez sent off as Man Utd implode against Chelsea skysports.com ↩
- BBC Sport: Carrick bemoans Man Utd defending in Chelsea loss bbc.co.uk ↩
- Football Italia: Carrick confident he will be Manchester United manager against Roma on Nov 3 football-italia.net ↩
- BBC Sport: Are Manchester United really at risk of a relegation scrap? bbc.co.uk ↩
- Sky Sports: Why Man Utd fans continue to stick by Carrick skysports.com ↩
- Sky Sports: Papers: Carrick to be given at least two more games in charge at Man Utd skysports.com ↩
