One topic trending across the internet is who might replace Michael Carrick if this Manchester United side continues to struggle.
After the humiliating 4-1 defeat to Como, some United fans expected the club to sack him immediately. Yet Ineos chose not to act, leaving Carrick in the dugout as United prepare to face AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Whether this match proves to be the turning point of his reign remains to be seen. For his sake, he will hope things finally click and he keeps his job. Should the status quo continue, however, and United go eight games without a win, Ineos will have no further excuses and will almost certainly sack him.
Several excellent coaches remain linked with the job, and fans are already debating who is best placed to raise the level at Old Trafford. Those who believe Fabian Hürzeler is the man, though, are set for disappointment.
Fabian Hürzeler responds to Manchester United links
The Brighton & Hove Albion head coach addressed the speculation surrounding the Old Trafford hot seat in his latest press conference.
“I am really focused on my job here,” Hürzeler said, as reported by Sussex World. “I have no time to think about these rumours because we play every three days.
“Besides that, I have a lot of respect for Michael Carrick and for what he achieved with Manchester United at the end of last season. He is a great human being and a great personality. Every time we meet, we enjoy a really good relationship, so I respect him deeply, and there is nothing more to say about that.”
Hürzeler declines to follow Sergej Jakirović’s example
It would have been intriguing had Hürzeler taken the same route as Sergej Jakirović. The Hull City manager recently made it clear that he would love the chance to coach United if the opportunity arose. He later clarified and withdrew those remarks, but the words were already out.
Hürzeler, by contrast, has chosen not to stake any claim for the United job, and few can blame him. His Brighton side are flying high.
They sit third in the Premier League with 16 points, have scored more goals than any other team, and boast a resilient defence that has conceded very few goals and kept four consecutive clean sheets.
Premier League-proven and tactically astute, Hürzeler would have represented a major coup for United.
Yet that move is clearly not happening, and his comments should give Brighton the confidence to firmly rebuff any approach for their manager.
Featured image by Mike Hewitt via Getty Images
