Romano says United chief wants an incredible manager to replace Carrick
Old Trafford was left reeling on Wednesday night as Manchester United (Utd) watched their Champions League hopes evaporate in a 4‑1 loss to Italian minnows Como, a result that has intensified calls for the club’s chief to find an ‘incredible’ replacement for interim boss Michael Carrick.
Como's stunning victory
Cesc Fabregas, the former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder, orchestrated the 4‑1 triumph, highlighting the Italian side’s rapid rise. It is Como's first season in the UEFA Champions League, having played in Serie B as recently as the 2023/24 campaign. The win underscored the gap between the Red Devils and a club that only a year ago fought in Italy's second tier.
United under pressure
The defeat marked United’s seventh successive game without a win, leaving the Red Devils 13th in the Premier League, just two points above the bottom three. In the Champions League they sit 20th, only above the elimination places on goal difference. The slide follows a season that began with promise but has quickly turned bleak.
Michael Carrick, who took interim charge five months ago, had guided United to the best record of any Premier League side by the end of the 2025/26 season, even out‑pointing champions Arsenal. He was then given the job permanently, yet the team’s form has reversed dramatically since that high point.
Manchester United under Carrick face manager hunt as pressure mounts
Owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are now under pressure to act, and speculation abounds about who might replace Carrick. The club’s director of football Jason Wilcox is reportedly one of the few senior figures who appreciates a potential successor.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano said on his YouTube channel: “Fabian Hurzeler is doing fantastic at Brighton. Manchester United have someone on their board who really appreciates Fabian Hurzeler, but that's it at the moment. He's completely focused on Brighton.” Hurzeler’s Brighton sit third in the Premier League after seven games and boast the division’s highest scorers.
Premier League all‑time top scorer Alan Shearer believes Hurzeler would be a good appointment, while former Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola praised the Brighton manager, saying last season: “The director, chairman have done an incredible job there. He's doing an incredible job, personality, rhythm, the way they played the last two games is outstanding.”
Other names linked with the United job include Julian Nagelsmann, admired by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who is out of work after leaving the Germany national team post‑2026 World Cup; Antonio Conte, also currently unemployed but linked before; and Roy Keane, who has made his preferred candidate clear. John Sibley of Reuters reported the story, which was sourced from GiveMeSport, where Lee is a Senior Editor and Content Strategist with more than 20 years’ experience, previously at and Google.