It's a difficult time for Manchester United fans.
Last season, Manchester United qualified for the Champions League by finishing third in the Premier League, and interim manager Carrick was made permanent in January. However, this season they sit 16th in the 20-team league table and face Chelsea away on Saturday. Manchester United have not won since losing to Sabah in the Champions League group stage on September 10, with their only Premier League victory this season coming two months ago against promoted Ipswich Town.
Two consecutive defeats — a 1-4 away loss to Champions League newcomers Como and a 0-3 home defeat to AFC Bournemouth — put Carrick's position under pressure. On Tuesday, it was confirmed that the 45-year-old would continue as manager, though uncertainty lingers. Even with coaching staff changes, fans at Old Trafford made clear during the Bournemouth match that others in the organization should also face scrutiny.
To gauge Manchester United fans' sentiment, The Athletic launched a survey this week, receiving thousands of responses. Here's what they revealed:
Was it right for the club to give Carrick more time?
At Old Trafford on Sunday, Carrick received strong fan support despite another poor performance. After the Bournemouth loss, fans surrounded Carrick as he left the field, sparing him the anger directed at other players.
But how much of this reflected support for Carrick himself — a former Manchester United player with an excellent record — and how much was hope that he would continue as manager? Were fans saying farewell and expressing gratitude for his contributions?
As it turned out, it was not farewell, and Carrick will have another opportunity to turn things around.
Respondents were divided: 45.9% believed the decision was correct, while a slim majority of 54.1% felt the club should not have given him more time.
Who would be a good replacement for Carrick?
Most respondents answered this question, regardless of their view on Carrick's future.
If he departs, Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is Manchester United fans' top choice—and the most difficult to sign.
Emery received 41.2% of votes, with unemployed Antonio Conte as his closest challenger at 23.9%.
For the Spaniard, Manchester United fans may need to temper expectations. Emery's appeal is understandable: he led Villa to a Europa League title, secured multiple Champions League qualifications, and demonstrated a remarkable ability to revitalize teams despite financial constraints and key player departures. These are precisely why Villa is reluctant to release him. Whether Emery would leave the sporting ecosystem he's built in Birmingham to tackle the situation at Manchester United remains uncertain.
He and Conte emerged as the most popular choices, suggesting Manchester United fans may believe the team needs a commanding figure with an uncompromising, energetic style to rejuvenate the squad—someone unafraid to voice opinions to the club's hierarchy on transfer matters.
Eddie Howe, who left Newcastle United this summer, has been considered by Old Trafford decision-makers, yet received only 8.3% of votes—trailing former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann (14%) and the "Other" category (8.6%). The least popular option was Brighton's 33-year-old manager Fabian Hürzeler.
Who bears responsibility?
Survey results largely aligned with the mood at the Bournemouth match, where anger was directed not at Carrick but at those above him.
The vast majority (74.3%) blame the Glazer family, who burdened the club with enormous debt in 2005—a burden still affecting finances today. Though the Glazers remain majority shareholders, respondents also criticized Sir Jim Ratcliffe, whose INEOS Group took over football operations in 2024 (9.8%), and Jason Wilcox, appointed Technical Director in April 2024 and later promoted to Football Director (8.8%).
CEO Omar Berrada and Carrick received minimal blame at 0.7% and 0.9% respectively—but players, judged by the boos they received as their manager left the field on Sunday, were held most responsible by 5.5% of respondents.
Is relegation a genuine concern?
Manchester United currently sit 16th, just 1 point above the relegation zone, ahead of this weekend's match. They are 6 points behind fifth-placed Chelsea, so conclusions are premature. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they were not worried about relegation for the first time since the 1970s, 42.3% said they were "somewhat worried," and 10.7% said they were "very worried."
To offer reassurance about Premier League survival (Manchester United have been in the top flight since 1975-76), Opta data suggests their most likely final position in May is 13th.
What will Manchester United's final Premier League position be?
Optimism is modest, but extreme pessimism is limited. Only 2.1% believe Manchester United can replicate last season's top-four finish, while only slightly more (2.4%) fear relegation. The overwhelming majority took a middle view: 45.8% predicted a finish between 11th and 17th, while the most common prediction was 5th to 10th at 49.7%.
Bruno Fernandes' predicament
This was Manchester United's first Premier League match since May 4, 2025 (four days before the second leg of the Europa League semi-final), and Bruno Fernandes did not play on Sunday. Carrick called it a "purely footballing decision," but the Manchester United captain had previously criticized his tactical setup following the heavy loss to Como.
There were footballing reasons for his absence: Fernandes is in poor form, having not scored or assisted since the 4-0 win over Sabah on September 10—a marked decline from his Player of the Year performance last season.
After the two met to clear the air, Carrick stated in Thursday's press conference that Fernandes would travel with the squad to face Chelsea. Before the survey closed (which was before Carrick confirmed Fernandes' return), the vast majority of respondents believed he should return to the starting lineup at Stamford Bridge, though 27.3% disagreed.
Poor summer transfer business
This sentiment partly explains why blame, as detailed above, falls primarily on those controlling Manchester United's finances and transfer decisions.
Respondents held varying views on the summer transfer window's poor quality, but consensus was negative. Only 4% rated it "good," while "very good" and "excellent" received negligible support.
Perceptions may improve regarding new arrivals—particularly midfielders Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos, and Carlos Baleba. Baleba, for instance, made his Manchester United debut against Tottenham only 19 days ago after recovering from a pre-season injury. However, fans remain equally frustrated by players who failed to arrive or opportunities missed...
Which position is the team's weakest?
Starting left-back Luke Shaw and center-forward Benjamin Šeško are both sidelined by injury. Has this impacted overall performance? Possibly. But given both players' injury histories and the failure to sign defensive reinforcements in the summer transfer window, it's unsurprising that respondents identified these two positions as weakest.
The impact is now evident—31.9% identified center-forward as the team's weakest link. The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell reported Wednesday that Šeško is not expected to return until at least January.
Which position is the team's strongest?
This is undoubtedly encouraging for Senne Lammens and his main backup Darlow. Some respondents may have chosen goalkeeper (37.1%) as the team's strongest position because they felt other areas were underperforming. Regardless, it's remarkable that fans give goalkeepers such high marks compared to a few years ago when André Onana held the number one spot.
Twenty-eight point six percent selected wingers, which is reasonable given the depth available: Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo, Rashford, Patrick Dorgu, and Shea Lacey offer solid options. Central midfield followed closely at 27%, with academy product Mainoo, Ugarte (recovering from post-World Cup injury), and recent signings Santos, Baleba, and Tielemans strengthening the area. Fernandes and Mount are also midfield options.
Will the players support Carrick?
This is the critical question—but respondents are unconvinced.
Nearly half (48.4%) answered "no"; 39% said "maybe"; and only 12.6% chose "yes."
"I have to say, the lads are eager to win," Carrick said in his pre-Chelsea press conference. "We're frustrated that we haven't won enough games, but they're full of fight and spirit, and while disappointed, they want to do better, that's for sure."
Now it falls to the players and Carrick to prove the doubters wrong in Saturday's match in West London.