There was a mix of boos and indifference as Manchester United crashed out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, the latest sorry chapter in their domestic cup performances. Michael Carrick and his players bore the brunt of the jeers, looking solemn as they left the pitch. Director of football Jason Wilcox looked unimpressed as he left the directors’ box, but he and the club’s hierarchy must take responsibility for their decisions.
This is how football works. Supporters know when something is good or bad and waste no time making their feelings known to those they consider to be paid by them. Carrick and his players are the public face of the club—the ones sent to speak to journalists and promote sponsors.
The head coach is often held responsible for everything, from tactics to transfers, but the reality is more complicated. Carrick returned to United in January, but others have shaped the long-term strategy that he operates within. Pressure is part of the job, though, and a defeat at Fulham on Sunday would ramp it up considerably.
United’s fans know exactly who runs their club, and they protest regularly against the Glazer family and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. They understand that not everything that happens over 90 minutes is the fault of the head coach and the players. The boos are for a single performance; the indifference is about the bigger picture. It is hard for United supporters to watch their club, back in the Champions League, be outspent in the summer by newly promoted sides—but that is the reality after years of financial mismanagement. It means the money available has to be spent wisely.
United being two goals up against Brighton after 10 minutes and then deservedly losing a game they barely competed in for the remaining 80 is a clear sign that something is wrong within the team—but Carrick knows this. Brighton fielded a much-changed side but still had an exciting range of talent from around the world, thanks to smart scouting and recruitment. They signed players from clubs in seven countries this summer, while United made four signings from fellow Premier League clubs. Calculated risks and dynamism are part of the job but are rarely seen at Old Trafford. It is somewhat ironic that the most successful signing last summer, in terms of price and consistency, was Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp.
Carrick and Wilcox cannot really be judged until Carlos Baleba, the most expensive of the three summer buys, is available, because his qualities should address the lack of mobility. Targeting central midfielders made sense after Casemiro’s exit and Manuel Ugarte’s shortcomings, but it was not the only area that needed attention. The squad’s overall weaknesses were acknowledged internally, but the lack of variety in the signings felt naive—and is proving to be.
Buying players from other Premier League clubs is rarely good value, but there is some logic to reducing adaptation time. Given the shortage at left-back and Joshua Zirkzee’s inadequacies, finding a cheaper midfield option than the £50m Andrey Santos could have helped the team overall. Someone needs to ease the pressure on Carrick by explaining why it was considered best to spend £155m on three players in the same position. The outside world is left to speculate, while Carrick has to come up with a plan B when Luke Shaw, as many expected, is out injured for a while.
Wilcox has handled internal media duties. On 30 October 2025, after three straight wins, he talked about the long-term plan—which was derailed by the sacking of Ruben Amorim just over two months later. Things were going well when Wilcox spoke to United’s editorial staff, but apart from statements about sackings, he shows no willingness to speak during difficult periods.
In Europe, sporting directors talking to the press is normal.But the Premier League has yet to catch on, and the silence is growing at United, with the team sitting 13th.
Skip past newsletter promotion
Free newsletter | Every weekday
Sign up to Football Daily
Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s take on the world of football
Enter your email
Sign up
After newsletter promotion
Wilcox arrived from Southampton in 2024, originally as technical director, and helped oversee the decision to keep Erik ten Hag after an eighth-place finish. Ten Hag was eventually dismissed after a poor start to the following season. Amorim was hired from Sporting even though his tactics did not fit the available squad and there was not enough money for the overhaul he needed. United finished 15th and suffered a tame Europa League final defeat by Tottenham. When Amorim was dismissed for his failures after 14 months, Wilcox was given another chance to fix things.
Carrick is not free from criticism; this United team is underperforming, and thrashing promoted Ipswich and the Azerbaijani side Sabah cannot hide the disappointing start.
The defence has struggled, conceding seven goals in four Premier League games, and against Brighton the pairing of Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven was close to inept. The forward line has looked disjointed.
Wilcox was well respected as Manchester City’s head of academy, and those who worked with him thought he was exceptional and suited to a role at that level. He is now scrutinised and criticised for his work at United after moving up the chain. Many outsiders will be frustrated if JJ Gabriel leaves, but Wilcox would not be to blame, having worked hard to convince the player to stay, including through the teenager’s inner circle.
With power comes great responsibility at United, but only Carrick is forced to embrace it. Ten Hag and Amorim fell for their failures, while others were allowed to carry on. Carrick and Wilcox are equally invested in the team’s success, but it seems only one will face the consequences if things do not improve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the topic of Michael Carrick and Jason Wilcox facing pressure at Manchester United
Who is Michael Carrick
He is a former Manchester United player and coach He is currently the head coach of Middlesbrough but he is often mentioned in discussions about Uniteds coaching struggles because he was part of the previous regime
Who is Jason Wilcox
Jason Wilcox is the Technical Director at Manchester United He was hired to help oversee the clubs football strategy including recruitment and the style of play
Why is pressure mounting on Carrick
If Carrick is struggling at his current club pressure mounts because fans and pundits expect him to succeed If the question refers to his time at United the pressure comes from the clubs poor performances during his brief stint as caretaker manager
Why should Jason Wilcox take the blame for Uniteds troubles
As Technical Director Wilcox is responsible for the longterm football plan If the team is playing poorly or the new signings are not performing the person in charge of that strategy must share the responsibility
What does a Technical Director actually do
A Technical Director manages the clubs football operations They work on scouting transfers and making sure the team has a clear identity or style of play They do not coach the team on a daily basis
Is Jason Wilcox responsible for the teams tactics
Not directly The head coach decides the tactics for each game However Wilcox is responsible for hiring the coach and making sure the coachs style fits the clubs overall vision
Did Carrick and Wilcox work together at Manchester United
Yes Jason Wilcox joined United in 2024 Michael Carrick had previously been an assistant coach at United but he left before Wilcox arrived They did not overlap in their roles
Why do fans think Wilcox is to blame
Fans often blame the management when results are bad If the team is losing and the new players are not good enough fans look to the people who bought those players and hired the manager
What is the main problem at Manchester United right now
The main problem is inconsistency The team struggles to win games regularly and there is no clear style of play This leads to pressure on everyone from the owners to the coaches
Can Carrick fix Uniteds problems
No Carrick is not
