#4 Michael Carrick – Manchester United
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Manchester United’s perfect start to the season was quickly derailed when three consecutive losses threatened to undermine Mourinho’s credentials as the right man for the job. After signing Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, United do not have a dearth of midfield players to choose from; so much so that players such as Herrera and Morgan Schneiderlin barely get a chance to play.
Which leaves Michael Carrick with a lot to do to earn his place in the lineup. His calm and assured passing is still a quality that is highly effective and admired by the fans. But giving a 36-year-old a contract extension is not something Mourinho would look forward to.
The Portuguese manager is a pragmatist and would rather have a new signing on the bench rather than give an ageing player a few minutes in the less important fixtures. This may well and truly be Carrick’s final season at Old Trafford.
