On the Old Trafford pitch on Sunday, Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison asked Michael Carrick whether he expected talks with the club’s hierarchy about his position. The Manchester United manager answered with questions of his own, deflecting the premise and turning the question back on the interviewer.

“Would you?” he replied when pressed on whether supporters would assume such talks were coming.

Asked directly whether he would consider stepping aside, Carrick’s answer was flat.

“That’s not going to happen.”

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The exchange played out minutes after Joshua Zirkzee in the 92nd minute and Patrick Dorgu in the 96th had rescued a point against Aston Villa with two late goals. United had conceded inside the first four minutes and trailed 4-2 deep into the second half. The draw leaves them 18th in the Premier League with one win from 10 league matches, their worst start to a campaign in 40 years.

‘100 per cent’ confident in his squad

In the subsequent press conference, Carrick repeated the message in plain terms.

“I’m quite clear with what direction the club needs to go in, and it’s got to win games,” he told reporters.

Asked whether his squad was good enough to climb the table, Carrick answered “100 per cent.” He acknowledged the record, saying the team had not won enough games, but insisted he expected to move forward and keep working.

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Wilcox and Berrada hold the call

Carrick’s confidence now meets a process he does not control. Director of football Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada are expected to use the two-week international break to decide whether to make a change, with Sky Sports reporting that no interim head coach is planned if they move. Wilcox, who was central to Carrick’s appointment, had been reluctant to pull the trigger.

Three names are prominent in United’s thinking, according to Sky Sports: Julian Nagelsmann, Fabian Hürzeler and Eddie Howe. Unai Emery had been admired but is close to a new long-term contract at Aston Villa. Bookmakers have made Mauricio Pochettino the favourite to replace Carrick if the axe falls.

Manchester United return to Premier League action against Liverpool on 22 November.

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