Five points from five games is not how Manchester United hoped to start the 2026-27 season.
Yet that is where the Red Devils find themselves, with the pressure mounting on Michael Carrick.
Inside the club, the suggestion is that the 45-year-old will manage to salvage the situation and turn things around. However, that has not stopped the whispers over who might replace him if he does not.
Man United job could tempt ambitious coaches
Several top tacticians would relish the chance to take charge at Old Trafford. Hull City boss Sergej Jakirović, for one, put himself forward as a better option a few weeks ago, in comments relayed by The Peoples Person.
Those remarks may well have caused some discomfort among Hull and their fans.
Sergej Jakirović clears the air over Man United talk
As the MKM faithful wondered where his allegiance lay, the outspoken Premier League manager has had to clarify the issue.
“I’d rather not talk about that right now. Not from my current position, where I have a club and am happy with the work we’re doing together,” he said when asked about his desire to coach Manchester United, as per Teleskop via Sport Witness.
“When the time comes for the next step, we’ll discuss it. You know my path; I’ve never set grandiose goals but instead developed gradually as a coach.
“That remains the plan. When the time comes for something better, we’ll sit down and talk. Until then, we move forward with God’s help, giving our absolute best in every training session and match.”
Jakirović is an exciting coach whom Ineos should definitely consider if it does not work out with Michael Carrick.
He took Hull from the brink of relegation from the Championship to a fairytale promotion back to the Premier League. Now he has the Tigers going toe to toe with established top-flight sides, collecting two wins, two draws and a loss so far.
That record must have many wondering how much better he would be at a top side with unlimited resources.
For now, we may have to wait and see how Carrick fares after the break; if he turns things around, all well and good. If he does not, we will find out whether the 20-time English champions are willing to gamble on Jakirović, a man with big ambitions in English football.
Featured image by Alex Livesey via Getty Images
