Michael Owen Backs Michael Carrick to Keep Man Utd Job Despite Growing Pressure

Michael Owen believes Michael Carrick deserves more time at Manchester United despite mounting pressure on the manager following a difficult start to the 2026-27 Premier League season.

Carrick is facing increasing scrutiny at Old Trafford after Manchester United struggled to deliver consistent results, with a challenging run of away fixtures threatening to make his situation even more uncomfortable.

However, former United striker Owen has urged the club to show patience, arguing that Carrick’s achievements last season and the team’s recent misfortunes deserve consideration before any decision is made about his future.

Owen Insists Carrick Deserves More Time

Speaking to GOAL, Owen admitted that Manchester United’s upcoming fixtures would present a serious test for Carrick, particularly with several difficult away matches on the schedule.

The former England international highlighted the trip to Leeds United as a particularly challenging encounter, given the fierce rivalry between the two clubs and the atmosphere expected at Elland Road.

“The next away game in the Premier League is Leeds, and Leeds are playing really well. Obviously we all know about their rivalry. That’s going to be some atmosphere. They’ll smell blood,” Owen said.

Despite the challenges ahead, Owen made it clear that he remains firmly behind Carrick.

“I’m a big Carrick fan. I thought he should have been given the job. I understand that there’s pressure surrounding the job. Absolutely. But how well he did last season, I think he absolutely should be given time.”

Man Utd’s Difficult Start Raises Questions

Manchester United’s early-season struggles have intensified the spotlight on Carrick, with inconsistent performances and defensive problems raising concerns among supporters.

According to the supplied report, United have collected just six points from their first six Premier League matches and have managed only one clean sheet this season.

A frustrating 1-1 draw against Tottenham, who had a player sent off, further increased the pressure, with sections of the fanbase expressing their disappointment.

Questions have also emerged over United’s recruitment, particularly the availability of reliable central striking options and the team’s ability to turn performances into victories.

With four of their next five fixtures scheduled away from home, Carrick faces a demanding period that could prove decisive in shaping perceptions of his leadership.

Owen Says United Have Been Unlucky

While acknowledging that Manchester United have not always performed at their best, Owen believes their points tally does not tell the entire story.

He pointed to narrow margins and controversial moments that he feels have cost the team valuable points in recent matches.

“They were massively unlucky against Everton. They scored with one of the goals of the season, the last kick of the game. They were robbed out of points by VAR in the Manchester derby,” Owen explained.

He added that, in his view, United have performed well enough in certain matches to deserve a better return.

“The performance wasn’t great against Spurs, granted, but I do like the team. I think it’s a lot better team now than it has been in the last few years. And I think that they’ve got the potential to have a decent enough season.”

Owen’s assessment suggests that he sees the current problems as challenges Carrick can overcome rather than evidence that the manager should immediately lose his job.

Difficult Away Fixtures Could Define Carrick’s Future

The upcoming schedule leaves little room for Manchester United to recover their confidence gradually.

The trip to Leeds will be followed by further away assignments, placing additional pressure on Carrick to improve results while managing the expectations surrounding one of England’s biggest clubs.

A positive run could ease concerns and give the manager breathing space. Further dropped points, however, would likely intensify calls for change.

For now, Owen believes the club should resist the temptation to make a premature decision.

“There’s people trying to put pressure, but I do think he deserves a fair bit more time for what he’s done so far,” he concluded.

Whether Manchester United’s hierarchy shares that patience may depend on what happens over the next few weeks. Carrick’s previous achievements have earned him some goodwill, but results will ultimately determine how much time he has left to turn the situation around.