Michael Carrick could be out of job before the end of October unless Manchester United’s results improve, reckons Gabby Agbonlahor.
It has been a tough start to the season for the Red Devils, winning just one of their first four Premier League games, losing two.
Things got worse on Wednesday night as they tossed away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Brighton and be knocked out of the Carabao Cup.
Carrick only signed a contract in May to become permanent United boss until 2028, but Agbonlahor thinks he is already in trouble.
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The Red Devils go to Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday and the former Aston Villa striker believes the club will start to look elsewhere if they are beaten in west London and Carrick could have just four or five games to save his job.
‘Manchester United probably thought, you know what, maybe we offer him a contract where there’ll be an easy escape, if they want to,’ Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT.
‘They had to [give him a contract], 100 per cent, but if this carries on, if they lose away at Fulham at the weekend, Sunday at 4.30pm, if they lose that game it’s the three-week international break.
‘If you’re Manchester United, are you starting to look at who we can tap up? Who can we speak to? If this carries on for another four or five games, maybe they make a change. But at the moment he’s still got his job for sure.’
The remarkable game at Old Trafford saw Shea Lacey and Mason Mount put the home team two goals ahead early, before they crumbled under pressure from the Seagulls.
It was a changed back four of Diogo Dalot, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Noussair Mazraoui. A defence that Agbonlahor was not impressed by.
‘Great start for Manchester United but then looked clueless for 60-65 minutes,’ said the former England striker.
‘Defensively so poor, so open. That’s one of the worst defensive performances I’ve seen in years.’
Agbonlahor also questioned the commitment of the Manchester United players, picking out Joshua Zirkzee as someone who did not show enough desire.
‘They looked like they give up, the Manchester United players, they were throwing their arms up,’ he said. ‘Just no desire. Zirkzee, it was like he was frustrated he hasn’t got his move away from Manchester United, didn’t seem bothered.
‘I’m watching them like: Where’s your heart? Where’s your desire?’
‘They’re too easy to score against, Manchester United, and I don’t know their style of play.’