United block out the chatter at Elland Road: what a point at Leeds says about Michael Carrick

Nobody's going to frame a one-all at Leeds as a great result. Seven points from seven, one league win, and a sixth game without a win in all competitions. There's no polishing that to make it look pretty. But if you'd told me on Tuesday night, with Lisandro Martínez stood in front of an Amazon Prime camera having a go at the people upstairs, that the week would finish with a United side scrapping for each other at Elland Road, I reckon plenty would have taken it.

The Leeds game was anticipated as a real test for Carrick. Depending on which paper you picked up this morning, he passed it, failed it, or should never have sat the exam in the first place. That split is what this week's roundup is about. We've gone through the match reports, the ratings, the columns and the podcasts, and laid out who's backing him, who isn't, and why. Further down, I'll tell you where I stand.

It's a big one this week, so there are tables and quotes to break it up. Dip in where you like. The reporting sections are labelled and balanced. My own view sits in one place only, near the end.

Last week's roundup is here, and Friday's piece on the Martínez row is here.

At a glance

Result Confirmed; stats Reported. Source: The Guardian match report [3]. Ian Ladyman of the Daily Mail puts Leeds' possession at 62% by full time (Reported) [9].

• United are 13th, two points above the relegation zone (Reported) [19], and 14 points behind leaders Manchester City after seven games (Reported) [20].
• One league win from seven is the fewest at this stage since 1986-87 (Reported) [19][12].
• Six games without a win in all competitions is the worst run since 2018-19 (Reported) [1].
• United and Ipswich are the only Premier League sides yet to keep a clean sheet (Reported) [12].
• Leeds have not beaten United at Elland Road in the league since September 2002 (Reported) [5].
• United's last win was 4-0 against FK Sabah on 10 September in the Champions League (Reported) [20][19].

The game

Team sheet v pitch

United were listed as 4-2-3-1: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martínez, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Fernandes, Tielemans, Amad; Mbeumo (Reported) [5]. Changes from Madrid were Maguire for Heaven and Amad for Rashford. It was Carlos Baleba's first Premier League start, and Matthijs de Ligt was in a matchday squad for the first time since November 2025 (Reported) [5].

On the pitch, the press box saw something different, and not everyone saw the same thing.

First half

Lammens saved Nico Elvedi's header around the 25th minute, at that point "the only chance of the game" according to Ladyman (Reported) [9]. Mbeumo then headed wide from seven yards on 28 (Reported) [3][5], and James Trafford raced out to stop Amad running through (Reported) [5][10].

Then on 35, Tielemans and Amad worked the ball down the right, Tielemans crossed low and Mbeumo scored (Reported) [3][5][1]. That's four goals in seven Premier League games for Mbeumo, and apart from Fernandes nobody else in the squad has more than one (Reported) [1].

Fernandes was booked for a late challenge on Tarik Muharemovic after a heavy touch, and the MEN says he gave the referee "a barrage of abuse" (Reported) [13]. Leeds' Gabriel Gudmundsson was booked for studs on Santos' calf. Darren Cann told BBC Sport he "could've had no complaints had a red card been shown", and Gary Neville said on Sky: "A bit more force and that's a red" (both Attributed) [16]. Three outlets have Ethan Ampadu fortunate not to be booked for an early challenge on Mbeumo (Reported, opinion) [2][5][9].

Salt called Martínez's first half "the best defensive half of United's season so far" (Attributed) [12], and the Athletic said he "kept his head, timed his tackles well" (Attributed, Cerys Jones) [7]. Neville, on his podcast, singled out Yoro for his work in the air, heading away Bogle's crosses, particularly in the first half (Attributed, opinion) [39].

Martínez off, then the equaliser

Martínez did not come out for the second half. Carrick said "He felt his thigh a little bit" (Attributed) [18]. Mazraoui replaced him. Neville said he saw Martínez holding his thigh in the first half and had no doubt the change was down to injury, not behaviour (Attributed, opinion) [39]. Simon Stone reads the choice of Mazraoui over de Ligt as down to de Ligt's fitness "after almost 11 months out with a back complaint" (Reported, the reporter's reading) [1].

Leeds were level on 51. Mazraoui conceded the corner, lost the first header to Muharemovic, and Calvert-Lewin shook off Mbeumo and finished (Reported) [3][7][9]. Who should have been picking Calvert-Lewin up is a question the reports can't agree on:

Whose man was it?

All Reported. None of them settles it.

Second half and substitutions

Leeds had 69% of the ball in the early part of the second half (Reported) [5]. Ladyman says United went half an hour without a shot after scoring, and that Fernandes' effort on 65 minutes was the first chance of note since the goal (Reported) [9]. In added time United were again lucky to not concede. Lammens punched weakly, Anton Stach's shot went through his legs, and Mazraoui cleared off the line (Reported) [5][9].

The changes: Mazraoui for Martínez (46), Mount for Baleba, and Cunha for Tielemans (84). Darlow, de Ligt, Rashford, Zirkzee, Lacey and Amass stayed on the bench (Reported) [2][3]. Reports can't agree on when Mount came on: 72 minutes (BBC), 73 (Guardian report), 74 (Guardian stats, Daily Mail) or 75 (Guardian live blog) [2][3][5][9].

How the changes were read:

• Guardian's Michael Butler on Mount for Baleba: "looks like a straight swap, which is surprising". On Cunha for Tielemans: "a positive change" (Attributed) [5].
• Ian Ladyman in the Daily Mail: "Carrick seemed reluctant to introduce Marcus Rashford or Matheus Cunha. Maybe that was a sign that the United manager valued a point above anything else" (Attributed, opinion) [9].
• Salt: "Carrick must make better decisions in-game, too, with substitutions here failing to make the side better" (Attributed, opinion) [12].
• Neville, on Baleba coming off, said he could understand it: Baleba had played the last half hour against Tottenham, then Madrid, then Leeds, three games in a week (Attributed, opinion) [39]. Wheeler read the same change as a verdict on Baleba's display (see below).
• Marshall noted Lammens "went long with every kick, when previously under Carrick United had tried to play out from the back" (Reported) [13].

How the selection was read

• Seb Stafford-Bloor wrote that the Baleba-Santos pivot "worked well, helping United cope with Leeds' physicality", and that Carrick "still deserves some praise for some of his selections" (Attributed) [7]. Baleba won 100% of his ground and aerial duels (Reported) [7].
• Stone wrote that Santos' display "questioned why he had been used so sparingly previously" (Attributed) [2]. Wheeler noted Carrick kept Santos on and took Baleba off, "which says a lot for what the head coach thought of his performance" (Attributed) [10].
• On Tielemans: Stone has him "more effective with two midfielders behind him" [2], Marshall "his best week as a United player" [13], and Stafford-Bloor called his cross "the best technical moment of the game" [7] (all Attributed).
• Dalot was the fifth different player to start at left-back this season, and Mbeumo has now played on the right, through the middle and on the left in successive games (Reported, BBC touch map) [1].

What they said

"It felt like a bit of a fresh start today, to be honest, with where we're at - accepting it and doing something about it."

Michael Carrick (Attributed) [1][4][20]

"[It's been] quite quiet inside [the club] – the headphones have been on this week."

Michael Carrick (Attributed) [4]

"You can't question the togetherness, spirit, the fight… To concede a set piece after half-time is disappointing… a draw is probably fair."

Harry Maguire (Attributed) [3][11]

"We were the dominant side… We should have won the game but we move on."

Daniel Farke (Attributed) [3]

Carrick also said: "I understand the situation doesn't look too good if you look at it from a certain way, but I've got no doubts that we can go on a good run" (Attributed) [1][4]. To talkSPORT: "I thought the boys stood up to it unbelievably well… a point is a point, but we can certainly take a lot from it" (Attributed) [19]. Before kick-off he told players about "the history and what it means to the supporters… to us coming over here into the territory", and described the last couple of days as "as good around the group… as we've had for quite some time" (Attributed) [15]. On Fernandes: "He's all right, no, it's not a big deal. He was absolutely fine today, don't worry". On Baleba and Santos: "I thought both of them were terrific today" (Attributed) [14]. Maguire also said "we are not as brave as we should be" (Attributed) [11]. Calvert-Lewin: "They are still a very good team with a lot of quality, regardless of the outside noise" (Attributed) [11].

How the press rated them

Three reporters, all at Elland Road. Ratings out of ten, and the averages are ours.

Reported (each is the reporter's opinion). Sources: BBC Sport [2], Manchester Evening News [13], Daily Mail [10]. Mazraoui's average is from two ratings, Mount's and Cunha's likewise. Wheeler gave Carrick a 6. Calvert-Lewin got an 8 from both Stone and Wheeler, and BBC Sport readers named him player of the match with an average of 7.36.

All three put Maguire top, and Fernandes sits at the bottom of the averages. The Guardian's live blog named Maguire man of the match (Reported) [5].

Carrick: then and now

Reported. The Athletic's figures [8] were published before the Leeds game. League record for 2026-27: talkSPORT [19], Daily Mail [12].

The same Athletic piece lists wins over Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal in that spell (Reported) [8]. Carrick signed a two-year deal in May (Reported) [19][20].

Martínez, after Atlético, to Amazon Prime: "You can't stay with what you did last season. The teams know you, how you play, the teams know every detail, and if you don't change, next season is a big problem" (Attributed) [8][18]. Asked about Carrick, he said: "He does his best." (Attributed) [18].

The Athletic's Cerys Jones ends her piece on this: "What earned Carrick the permanent job this summer was how rapidly he found solutions to issues created by another man's tactics… Now, his problem-solving abilities are being tested far more fiercely" (Attributed) [8].

What he's working with

The back four. Barney Ronay counted the XI at Elland Road: "four defenders signed under Erik ten Hag, two Ruben Amorim recruits, two from the mist-shrouded age of Solskjær", and wrote that "The third-richest club in the world played a second half with three of its back four out of position" (Attributed, opinion) [6]. Salt described "a right back at left back, a centre-back at right back, and finished with a right back at centre-back…" (Attributed, opinion) [12]. Stone made a related point on 5 October, outside this week's window and used here as background: the first-choice defence of Dalot, Maguire, Martínez and Luke Shaw is "just as it was on the opening day of the 2022-23 season. That is a worry" (Attributed) [30].

The treatment room. Before kick-off, talkSPORT reported Šeško out for about two more months, Patrick Dorgu out until late November with a hamstring problem, and Manuel Ugarte still recovering from knee surgery (Reported) [28]. Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo picked up strains against Tottenham. Carrick told Sky they were "close-ish [to being fit] but not close enough" (Attributed) [5].

The money. Here's where the reports split on a number.

The MEN puts the whole summer at almost £200m, including Tynan Thompson at £8m (Reported) [17]. The Athletic puts the Santos deal at £50m (Reported) [8]. Neville said in passing on his podcast that United "spent 160 million quid", without saying what that covered (Attributed) [39].

A graphic on a Sunday pre-match show (Sky Sports Main Event) put United 10th for total summer spend, behind Manchester City and Chelsea, both over £300m, and behind promoted Ipswich and Hull as well (Reported) [40]. We’re unsure exactly how the ranking was measured. It sits awkwardly with the Athletic's list of four clubs outspending United, and we haven't resolved it.

Laurie Whitwell reported that Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal all spent more. United missed out on targets including Anderson, Tonali, Matheus Fernandes, Ederson, Scott and Tchouaméni, and failed in a pursuit of Lewis Hall. They chose not to sign a striker to support Šeško, and Whitwell reports that Carrick would himself have wanted more from the market (Reported; Whitwell's own paraphrase, not a Carrick quote) [21].

Jamie Carragher wrote in the Telegraph that United have the highest net spend in the Premier League over the last four years, £769.5m (Attributed) [23]. On Sky on Sunday he called it "a vicious circle… it can't just be a tap that never gets turned off… for me, that was this summer" (Attributed) [17]. Salt wrote: "Wilcox and Co kicked the can down the road when it came to bolstering the backline and are paying for it now" (Attributed, opinion) [12], and the Daily Mail's picture caption says Wilcox "has elected to fix the defence next summer" (Reported) [12]. Neville said on Sky that Carrick had been left "short" in defence after the window (Attributed) [36].

Carrick, asked about January: "When the next transfer window comes, you want to plan and you want to make the best of it... there's opportunity because the transfer window is open... we'll definitely be looking at that" (Attributed) [36]. Sky Sports News adds that United's interest is in centre-backs and left-backs (Reported) [36].

Jason Wilcox was at Elland Road next to chief executive Omar Berrada, with Sir Alex Ferguson in the row behind (Reported) [5][1].

The week before it

The Martínez story is covered in full in Friday's Who's Saying What, so here's the short version.

United lost 2-0 at Atlético Madrid on Tuesday 13 October. Pablo Barrios scored after 47 seconds, a Johnny Cardoso goal was ruled out for a Marcos Llorente handball in the build-up, and Ademola Lookman scored on 79 (Reported) [34][35]. Leny Yoro was sent off after a VAR review for denying Jonathan David a clear scoring chance: Sky has the card in the 75th minute, Al Jazeera the 74th (Reported) [34][35]. Clinton Morrison called it "soft" (Attributed) [34]. Sky adds United created four big chances without scoring, their most in a Champions League game since September 2012, and Al Jazeera calls it their worst domestic start in 40 years (Reported) [34][35].

After the game Martínez told Amazon Prime: "now we expect more from the top, from upstairs, to bring in more players to compete", and, on the technical director, "I expect more from our technical director. I have to be honest" (Confirmed, the player's own words) [31][21]. Asked if he expected more summer investment: "Yes, 100 per cent" (Attributed) [31].

Carragher called the comments "awful". Wayne Rooney said Martínez had "maybe gone a bit too far" and that the comments were "a bit disrespectful to his team-mates" (both Attributed) [32]. Martínez then posted a statement saying he spoke "out of anger and frustration" and that "my words reflect how I feel" (Attributed) [33]. Sky reports the statement does not apologise or retract (Reported) [33]. Others describe it as an apology. BBC Sport's Simon Stone writes that Martínez started at Leeds "following his apology for the timing and forum of his attack rather than the words themselves" (Attributed) [1]. Neville said on his podcast that "he's come out and apologized" [39], and the presenter of a Sunday pre-match show said Martínez "has subsequently apologized" (both Attributed) [40]. We have left that disagreement standing; see below. Sky Sports News also reports anger in the boardroom and dressing room, at least one team-mate challenging him on the flight home, no disciplinary decision, and no reported internal pressure on Wilcox (Reported) [33]. talkSPORT reports he was fined (Reported) [18].

The Athletic reported, citing sources close to the player, that the outburst was not primarily about his own contract and reflected frustration building since the League Cup exit to Brighton, and that other players share his view of Wilcox and the summer window. It also says he is "believed to be open to a move to Spain, with Madrid his preferred destination" if he leaves (Reported) [22]. No player has said any of that on the record.

Carrick said after the match he had not seen the interview and could not comment on it, but that there was "disappointment within the group", himself included (Attributed) [34].

Where the pundits stand on Carrick

This is United Roundup's sorting of named, on-record positions we gathered this week. It is not a poll, and some of these people would argue with the box we've put them in.

Backing him, or blaming the people above him

• Barney Ronay, Guardian: "Michael Carrick did not hire Michael Carrick. Getting rid of Michael Carrick is, by definition, not going to solve the problems that led to his appointment…" [6]
• Seb Stafford-Bloor, The Athletic: "no head coaching decision, of any sort, is going to have a truly significant impact here." [7]
• Laurie Whitwell, The Athletic: "I don't believe there is an appetite to change head coach… but Carrick's position is beginning to feel precarious…" [25]
• Lisandro Martínez, player: "He does his best." [18]
• Stretford Paddock (Jay Motty or Stephen Howson), fan channel: has seen enough to give Carrick the benefit of the doubt (paraphrase) [41]

Jury's out

• Simon Stone, BBC Sport: United "did reasonably well… But it's meagre fare." [1]
• Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail: "this was a good result for Manchester United… at least Carrick appeared to be trying something different" [9]
• Cerys Jones, The Athletic: "his problem-solving abilities are being tested far more fiercely." [8]
• Paul Scholes: "The one thing that someone like Hurzeler has got over Michael is that he's done a body of work in the Premier League." [26]
• Gary Neville, podcast: "today is a stepping stone, but we can't get carried away." [39]

Not convinced

• Mark Ogden, ESPN: "it seems only a matter of time before the Old Trafford malaise costs manager Michael Carrick his job" [20]
• Jamie Jackson, Guardian: "To hear Carrick hail this result as a 'fresh start' hints at desperation" [3]
• Jamie Carragher: "Carrick has not proven himself up to one of the biggest jobs in football, and he has a group of players who do not run" [23]
• Nathan Salt, Daily Mail: "Carrick must make better decisions in-game, too." [12]

All Attributed to the named person, via the outlet numbered.

Two things stand out. Nobody in the first group says Carrick is the answer. Their argument is that sacking him doesn't fix the problem. Ronay even adds "it is surely worth keeping him just to try, for once, to do something different", while also predicting that "United probably will sack their current manager before the year is out" (Attributed, opinion) [6]. Whitwell goes on: if Carrick goes, "attention will turn to the hierarchy for overseeing a third mid-season change in a row" (Attributed) [25].

Ladyman, meanwhile, argues the problems are "application" more than tactics (Attributed) [9].

Neville, on his podcast, gives Carrick credit for adjusting at Leeds and contrasts that with Amorim, who he says never adjusted (Attributed, opinion) [39]. He also sets a bar: "fourth would be a birdie, fifth would be par and sixth would be a bogey", and "fifth is a must for Michael Carrick to continue to grow". If United are 13th in January, he says, "he's got a problem" (Attributed, opinion) [39]. He argues United have been better sitting deep and countering than being asked to dominate games, under several managers (Attributed, opinion) [39].

From the fan side, the Stretford Paddock post-match review [41], presented by Jay Motty and Stephen Howson, reads the shape as nearer a 4-2-4 that gave United a box in the middle of the park, four against three, which is given as the reason Baleba and Santos were not run over. It is said to have cost United numbers going forward (Attributed to Stretford Paddock, opinion). The show dismisses the "are the players playing for the manager" question, puts the repeated goals from crosses and corners on the players as well as the manager, and says Carrick's first six months are enough to give him the benefit of the doubt, with Fernandes' form and the missing left-back and striker as context (Attributed to Stretford Paddock, opinion). Later a voice on the show argues that Carrick may go regardless, because patience is scarce at United and the same people would choose the next manager (Attributed to Stretford Paddock, opinion). The transcript has no speaker labels, so we credit the show and cannot say whether Motty or Howson said which line.

The Carragher shift. This is the clearest change of position of the week.

All Attributed to Jamie Carragher.

Demeanour. Ogden's piece was the hardest on the man himself. He described Carrick on the touchline as someone who "stood on the touchline like a mannequin, displaying no emotion, passion or tactical instruction", and wrote: "Carrick is too calm… He epitomizes the club's sleepwalking" (Attributed, opinion) [20]. Ronay read the same calm the other way: his "widely praised qualities in victory… inscrutable sense of calm, would become his fatal flaws in defeat", and Carrick looked "drained" in the second half (Attributed, opinion) [6]. Butler on the live blog: "Carrick was as dull as dishwater in his pre-match interview, but maybe that's the point after a turbulent week" (Attributed) [5].

Successor talk. Fabian Hürzeler, Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte have all been named in reported shortlists this week (Reported) [26][27][25]. Ogden lists Eddie Howe, Conte and Kieran McKenna as proven managers out of work (Reported) [20]. The Daily Mirror reported Conte has told United he'd be keen if Carrick were sacked (Reported, via Sky's paper review) [27]. Italian reports went further and claimed Conte already has an "agreement" (Speculation; relayed via Calciomercato and TEAMtalk, disputed) [25]. Fabrizio Romano disputed it directly: "My understanding is that Antonio Conte has no agreement with any club… That's not true. Conte has no agreement done" (Attributed) [25].

Ogden reports that "Carrick still has support within the United boardroom, but it won't last long…" (Reported) [20]. There's no club statement either way.

Where sources agree, and disagree

Agree. United were more committed and compact than against Spurs, and poor after half-time (Guardian, Athletic, Daily Mail, ESPN, MEN). Maguire was their best and Fernandes among their worst (BBC, MEN, Daily Mail). United did not play the listed 4-2-3-1, and defended with three or five without the ball (Guardian, Daily Mail x2, ESPN, MEN). The squad was short at left-back and up front, and the summer spend did not address it (Athletic, Daily Mail, Guardian, Sky, BBC). Martínez came off with a thigh problem, not for disciplinary reasons (talkSPORT, BBC, Guardian, and Neville on his podcast).

Disagree on fact.

• The cost of the three summer midfielders: £155m (Athletic, MEN) against £163m (Sky).
• When Mount came on: 72 to 75 minutes depending on the outlet.
• Who was picking up Calvert-Lewin for the equaliser (table above).
• Yoro's red card at Atlético: 74th minute (Al Jazeera) or 75th (Sky).
• Whether Martínez apologised. Sky says his statement "does not apologise" [33]. Stone at the BBC [1], Neville [39] and a Sunday pre-match show presenter [40] all say he did. They may mean different things by the word, and we haven't resolved it.
• Where United rank on summer spend. The Athletic lists four clubs spending more [21]. A Sunday pre-match show graphic put United 10th, behind Ipswich and Hull too [40].
• Whether Wilcox is under internal pressure. Sky Sports News reports no internal pressure on him [33]. The Athletic's Whitwell describes Wilcox as trusted by Ratcliffe and close to Berrada, but says "some who have dealt with Wilcox sense" pressure building on him (Reported) [21]. Neither is on the record.

Disagree on reading.

• The shape: "creative" (Athletic) against "damage-limitation" (ESPN).
• The shape, again: a box midfield of four against three, nearer a 4-2-4 (Stretford Paddock [41]), against a back three or five without the ball (Jackson, Ladyman, Ogden).
• "Fresh start": the MEN reported Carrick's words got "a response" [15]. Jackson heard "desperation" [3].
• Carrick's calm: a weakness (Ogden) against a quality praised in victory and held against him in defeat (Ronay).
• Baleba coming off: a verdict on his display (Wheeler) against sensible rest after three games in a week (Neville).
• Conte: an "agreement" (Italian reports) against none (Romano).

Disagree on blame. Ronay, Salt and Whitwell put most of it on the people who built the squad. Carragher puts more on the manager and the players (Attributed) [6][12][21][23].

Unknown.

• Whether Martínez's thigh keeps him out at Como.
• Whether Shaw and Mainoo are available for Como or Bournemouth.
• Whether the back three is a one-off or the new plan.
• The board's position on Carrick. Ogden says support "won't last long", and the club has said nothing either way.

What comes next

Como away in the Champions League on Wednesday 21 October, 5.45pm UK time. Then Bournemouth on Sunday 25 October.

In a post-match interview Carrick said the turnaround is three days and that the squad will recover and prepare for the Wednesday game (Attributed) [38].

Maguire said the lads need to be ready and focused for Como (Attributed) [38]. Maguire also said United had been beaten on set plays at Hull and again at Leeds (Attributed) [38].

Watch for a club update on Martínez's thigh, whether Shaw and Mainoo are back, whether Baleba and Santos keep their places, and whether the back three turns up again.

Carrick's pre-Como press conference should tell us most of it. Neville reckons there are eight games in 28 days from Tottenham to the next international break, and named Chelsea away after Bournemouth (Attributed; he hedged the count with "I think") [39].