United leave Carrick hanging by a thread after Bournemouth loss

Michael Carrick, Manchester United's manager, claimed he was "carrying on as normal" after his team's 3-0 home loss to Bournemouth on Sunday, but the result had left Old Trafford in a state of turmoil. The manager admitted he took full responsibility for the outcome, stating that the responsibility was his regardless of the result.

When asked if he expected to be sacked in the coming days, Carrick responded, "I totally understand the situation. I’m not expecting anything in particular, to be honest. I’m carrying on as normal, and I love this place." United had won only twice in 12 matches this season, and had not won in the top flight since defeating newly promoted Ipswich Town on August 30.

The defeat left them with seven points from eight league matches, just a point above the drop zone. The fans had shown their support for Carrick, unfurling a banner with the words "Standards" and singing "It’s Carrick you know!" during halftime. However, once Carrick left the field, the chants gave way to loud boos directed at the players.

Bruno Fernandes, the captain, was left out of the starting lineup, which may have contributed to the poor performance. Harry Maguire, who captained the team for the day, stated that the players had the full support of the dressing room. Carrick admitted that the atmosphere was difficult to cope with, but he refused to see it as a farewell.

Former United defender Gary Neville suggested that the crowd's support indicated that the fans knew what was going to happen. Even Bournemouth's manager, Marco Rose, expressed sympathy for Carrick, stating that they were all humans trying to do their best.