Manchester United sack Michael Carrick as Pochettino expected to replace him

Manchester United have sacked head coach Michael Carrick after a poor start to the season left the club in the Premier League relegation zone. The club confirmed the decision in a statement, saying it had reached the extremely difficult conclusion that a change was necessary to achieve its ambitions.

Carrick, a former United player, was dismissed after Sunday's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa. United are 18th in the table and have made their worst start to a domestic season in 40 years. The decision followed a meeting in Monaco between co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox.

United have opened talks with Mauricio Pochettino, the former Tottenham and Chelsea manager who is in charge of the United States men's national team. Pochettino is expected to replace Carrick. ITV reported that his release clause with US Soccer is £7.4 million, while BBC News said the cost of taking him from the USA job would be more than £7 million. Sky News reported that Pochettino already had an agreement in principle.

BBC News reported that Pochettino had been considered for the job in 2018, 2022 and 2024, and that he signed a contract extension with US Soccer in August. BBC News also reported that Carrick had won 12 of his first 17 games after taking over in January, leading United into the Champions League, before a run that included defeats by Hull City, Brighton, Como and Bournemouth.

ITV reported that Harry Kane, who played under Pochettino at Tottenham, said he could not speak highly enough of him. Sky News questioned whether Pochettino was a long-term answer, noting that his only trophy had come at Paris Saint-Germain and suggesting he would probably keep United up as a short-term fix.

Reaction among supporters was mixed and often angry at the owners. BBC News spoke to Asif Mahmoud, chairman of the official Manchester United Muslim supporters club, who said the way the club had handled the sacking left a bad taste and that blame lay with the ownership. BBC News also heard from season ticket holder Sue McGranahan, who said Carrick did not have the right credentials, and Alex Ballantine, founder of the Detroit Red Devils supporters' group, who said nothing would change until the Glazers left.

BBC News's Kieran Maguire said Carrick was being made the fall guy for errors elsewhere at the club. He said United's revenue was just short of £680 million last year and that relegation could reduce it by £200 million to £250 million.

BBC One reported that the Manchester United Supporters Trust called the dismissal another depressing moment and said the blame lay with the ownership. ITV reported that fans at Old Trafford were largely unsurprised but criticised the way Carrick had been treated.

Channel 4 gave a brief summary of the sacking, noting that Carrick had rejoined the club as head coach at the start of the year and that United sat in the relegation zone after 10 matches.