Welcome to El Sackico! Michael Carrick on thinner ice than Roberto De Zerbi as under-fire Man Utd and Tottenham bosses face off

Three points this weekend won’t be enough to paint over the cracks, just as it wasn’t for Solskjaer in 2021. Indeed, United dismissed the Norwegian just three weeks after he’d masterminded that win over Spurs, which was followed up by a 2-2 draw at Atalanta in the Champions League, a 2-0 derby loss to City, and a 4-1 thrashing by Watford at Vicarage Road.

The schedule looks even more unforgiving for Carrick; United have three away games after facing Tottenham, against Atletico Madrid and Como in Europe, and an unbeaten Leeds United in the Premier League. They will also host Bournemouth before wrapping up the month with a trip to Chelsea. Carrick could easily be gone by November.

It’s crisis mode at Old Trafford, but the stakes are not as high for Spurs, who only have the Premier League to worry about. De Zerbi will be afforded patience as he bids to affect real change, and the mood in the camp is relatively upbeat.

“I would classify our current situation as a club as negative in terms of results but positive in terms of football,” Tonali said while away on Italy duty. “We’re having fun and creating chances. If you don’t score in football, you lose. We’re not in the doldrums; we’re alive and well, and we’re positive. We know the team is very strong.”

Carrick’s troops aren’t having any fun. You can sense the anxiety in their minds and tension in their shoulders whenever they get on the ball. Even Fernandes, their talismanic captain and unapologetic risk-taker, appears to be forcing it more than usual.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Baleba is in line to make his debut against Spurs after recovering from an ankle issue, while Matthijs de Ligt is also close to returning after a long spell out with a chronic back injury. Their respective integrations could go a long way to addressing United’s lack of physicality in the middle of the park and naivety at the back.

Amad Diallo, meanwhile, will be back in contention for a spot on the right wing after missing the start of the season with a groin injury. His inclusion would allow Mbeumo to do what he does best and work the channels, while Cunha can shift back to the left instead of filling an unnatural No.9 role.

Judging by his refusal to criticise the team publicly up to this point, Carrick may be be quietly confident about these players making the difference. It’s incredibly unfair that he’s in this position, though; United should have enough depth to cope when key figures are sidelined.

As it is, consistency will almost certainly remain elusive. Carrick has been treated like he’s still the interim coach, instead of being trusted to mould the team in his image like De Zerbi is at Spurs. He deserves far better, regardless of what happens on Saturday.