Carrick Set to Survive Until the International Break

Michael Carrick looks set to stay in charge of Manchester United for Tuesday's Champions League match against Roma at Old Trafford, even after a damaging weekend. A 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Saturday extended the club's winless run to nine games and marked their worst start to a season since 1988.

The results have left United 17th in the Premier League, a position that would have seemed hard to imagine for a club of their history. Even so, Carrick is expected to be in the dugout against Roma, and the immediate plan does not involve a change in the managerial job this week.

The bigger test comes after the next domestic round. United host Aston Villa next Sunday, and once that match is played the international break gives the club a natural point to take stock. Carrick's position is expected to be reviewed again during that pause, rather than in the hours after the Roma game.

For supporters, the timing is frustrating. Nine league and cup results without a win is a sharp fall for a club that has spent recent seasons trying to rebuild its identity, and the slide has put pressure on everyone connected with the squad. Carrick now has a short run of fixtures to show that the team can recover, beginning with a home European night and continuing against a Villa side that will be watching the table closely.