Shock: "Abandoning Carrick, embracing Conte" — Crisis-stricken Manchester United draws its sword... Sudden contact with 'Son's former coach' — "Competing with Juventus"

*This content was translated by AI.

Manchester United is reportedly considering firing manager Michael Carrick (45). The top priority for the next head coach is Antonio Conte (57), the former Napoli manager known as a "championship fixer."

The British tabloid The Sun reported on the 24th (Korean time), citing Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, that Manchester United's board has selected Manager Conte as their top target to replace Carrick and has already initiated initial contact through intermediaries.

Manager Carrick was appointed interim head coach last season and led the team to a third-place finish in the English Premier League (EPL) and qualification for the UEFA Champions League (UCL), earning him recognition as a savior. His coaching abilities were acknowledged, leading to his promotion to permanent manager, and he received full support from the club during the summer transfer window.

However, the results have turned out exactly opposite. Manchester United has recorded just one win, two draws, and two losses (five points) in five league matches, plummeting to 12th place. They are already 10 points behind league-leading Manchester City.

The team's performance is also at its worst. In the Carabao Cup (EFL Cup) Round of 32 match against Brighton, they took an early two-goal lead within the first 10 minutes but conceded three consecutive goals and lost 3-2 in a comeback defeat. This was the first time in 50 years that Manchester United lost at Old Trafford after holding a two-goal lead. In the previous match against Fulham, the game looked bleak until the 44th minute of the second half when Mateo Cunha scored a lucky equalizer, resulting in a narrow 1-1 draw.

Despite fierce criticism from local experts, Manager Carrick dismissed concerns about a crisis, stating, "There is still a long season ahead, and the results were decided by small margins." However, the board's patience has already reached its limit.

Conte, a strong candidate for the next manager, has built a reputation as a championship fixer after managing Juventus, Chelsea, and Inter Milan. He boasts an English league win rate of 60.4% and led Son Heung-min to become the top scorer during his tenure at Tottenham Hotspur. After guiding Napoli to the Serie A title last season, he is currently out of work.

However, there are variables. According to local outlets such as CuttOffside, his former club Juventus has also entered the race to appoint Conte as manager. Due to Conte's fiery personality, which often leads to clashes with club executives, some argue that he may not be suitable from a long-term perspective. As a result, some in the UK are suggesting that Manchester United should give Manager Carrick more time and opportunities during the transfer window.

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*This content was translated by AI.