Jeers and defensive crisis - Carrick facing first big Man Utd test
Twenty-four hours earlier, Chelsea were the team with everything to prove when they took on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. Now - after a home defeat by Leeds - Manchester United and head coach Michael Carrick travel to the same venue on Saturday with major questions to answer as well. It had been anticipated Carrick and his team would have a 10-point cushion and be cruising to a place in next season's Champions League.
Instead, they know defeat will cut their advantage to four, with a queue of clubs desperate to take advantage of any weakness. A first home defeat in his 11-game tenure, one victory in four games, no clean sheet in five, a potential central defensive crisis and boos ringing in his ears at half-time. This is uncharted territory for Carrick, who has seemed so unflappable since replacing Ruben Amorim in January.
Over the next 48 hours, Manchester United will find out whether Harry Maguire will receive an additional punishment for his red card at Bournemouth last month after he was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association (FA) for something he said to fourth official Matt Donohue as he made his way off the field. An additional suspension would rule him out of the Chelsea game, which Matthijs de Ligt is almost certain to miss as he deals with a long-term back problem. Martinez will also miss out - plus home games against Brentford and Liverpool - after he was dismissed for violent conduct for pulling Dominic Calvert-Lewin's hair in the second half.
Carrick has suggested United will appeal against the red card. Unless they are successful, his only available central defenders at Stamford Bridge will be 19-year-old Ayden Heaven and 20-year-old Leny Yoro, who found it difficult to deal with Calvert-Lewin. "That's why we've got a squad," countered Carrick.
"We have got players we can call upon. We'll go there and look forward to the game. "Hopefully Licha [Martinez] is still available.