Atletico Madrid take the points
Atlético Madrid beat Manchester United in the Champions League at the Metropolitano (3). No scoreline is confirmed yet, but the result is: another defeat, and the pressure on Michael Carrick gets heavier.
Your team sits 13th in the Premier League on 6 points from 6 games, with a goal difference of zero. The form line reads D W L D D. That is the context this result lands in (3).
The club say Carrick still has their backing
Fabrizio Romano's message from inside Old Trafford is clear. "Manchester United are still giving time and confidence to Michael Carrick. That's the message coming from the club. Inside Manchester United they feel that the players are still with Michael Carrick" (2).
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Carrick made his own case before the trip, pointing to Mikel Arteta and Diego Simeone as managers who were given years, not months. "It pains me to say, but the one that won the league in our country last season has been there for a long period of time" (5).
Conte is available and talking about a project like yours
Antonio Conte has been out of work since leaving Napoli. Michael Owen has given his verdict on whether United should sack Carrick, with claims Conte is close to reaching an agreement with the club (6).
Conte himself opened the door, without naming anyone: "There are many clubs which, in one way or another, have lost sight of their own history. I would like to join one of those clubs to dust off that history and give it back all its shine" (10). He has been linked with the job, and with Juventus (10).
Rooney says there is a tactical flaw to fix
Wayne Rooney has identified a tactical problem Carrick must solve, and proposed a Jose Mourinho-style fix for it (9). That is a club legend naming the thing you have been watching every week.
Gerrard is not convinced by Andrey Santos
Steven Gerrard did not hold back on the summer signing. "I'm not sure Andrey Santos was the right signing for Manchester United at £50m" (1). Santos has started only two games since arriving from Chelsea (1).
Zirkzee stays in January
Carrick has decided United will keep Joshua Zirkzee through the winter window, despite his struggle for minutes (4). No outgoing move then, whatever interest arrives.
Sesko is a €75m target for Europe's big clubs
Benjamin Sesko is wanted by Juventus and Barcelona, with United valuing him at around €75m (7). That is a 2027 conversation, but the number is already on the table.
Van de Ven and Olmo on the radar
United and Liverpool are both looking at Micky van de Ven for 2027, with Tottenham unwilling to sell (8).
Separately, intermediaries have sounded out United over Dani Olmo ahead of the winter window, with three other English clubs also approached about the Barcelona playmaker (11).
Leeds next, then Como
The fixtures do not slow down. United go to Leeds United in the Premier League on Sunday, October 18 at 15:00 CEST (fixtures).
After that it is Como away in the Champions League on Wednesday, October 21 at 18:45 CEST, then AFC Bournemouth at home on Sunday, October 25 at 15:00 CET (fixtures).
Fan reactions
The subreddit is split between matchday and the table. One thread is built around Diego Simeone's press conference before the Atletico match, which tells you how much of the mood is about the opponent rather than United. The other is the Premier League table after Gameweek 6, and it is doing the rounds for obvious reasons. Matchday thread
